‘Decision on Godhra bodies could have been Modi’s’
Former Gujarat minister of state for home Gordhan Zadafia on Friday told the Nanavati Commission that the decision to bring bodies of the victims of 2002 Godhra train burning incident to the city “could have” been taken by chief minister Narendra Modi.
Bringing dead bodies back to the city is believed to have worsened the violence that followed.
Mr Zadafia was on Friday cross-examined for nearly three hours before the riots-probe panel, where he also revealed that he never instructed former minister I.K. Jadeja to go to DGP office on February 28, 2002, contrary to the latter’s stand.
The former MoS home, who is no longer with BJP, also refuted the allegations of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt that he was lying about not having knowledge of the emerging tense situation at various places in the city on February 28.
“The decision to bring back bodies could have been taken by the two senior ministers who were there in Godhra — Ashok Bhatt and the CM (Modi),” Mr Zadafia said, in an answer to a question by Mukul Sinha of NGO Jansangharsh Manch (JSM).
During his earlier deposition before the commission on November 19, 2010, Mr Zadafia had said this decision was taken by two senior ministers, but had not named anyone.
In the deposition in December 2011, Mr Zadafia said that the bodies were brought to Ahmedabad as most of the victim karsevaks were from the city or nearby areas.
But on Friday, Mr Zadafia said the decision to bring back charred bodies to Ahmedabad was taken prior to their identification. He also said he came to know about this decision only in the morning of February 28, 2002.
When asked if he had instructed the (then) minister for urban development I.K. Jadeja to go to DGP office in Gandhinangar, Mr Zadafia said, “I did not tell Jadeja to go to DGP office or anywhere.”
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