The SIT that probed the Gujarat riots has found no truth in the allegation that the conspiracy for the 2002 carnage was hatched in two meetings of different Hindu groups in Lunawad and Borwai near Godhra after 59 “kar sevaks” were burnt alive in Sabarmati Express by setting its two boogies on fire.
The SIT rather came out with a contrary conclusion that the allegation made by NGO activist Teesta Setalvad about the conspiracy meetings by the Hindu groups was not only found to be “incorrect but motivated”.
SIT chief R.K. Raghavan in his comments on the material evidence collected by his team also found no truth in the allegations that the Narendra Modi government had “delayed” requisition and deployment of Army after the situation had drastically worsened in the wake of the Godhra incident.
“A thorough inquiry was done in regard to these meetings (at Lunawad and Borwai as alleged by Setalwad). No evidence was unearthed to support the allegation. Actually the information proved to be incorrect and motivated,” Mr Raghavan in his comments said.
Ms Setalvad had alleged that the then ministers Ashok Bhatt and Prabhatsinh Chauahan in the Modi-led BJP government had participated in Lunawada meeting in which “plans were hatched to attack the minority community”.
the SIT after examining relevant documents available with the concerned authorities in the state and with the Union home ministry, found that the state government “alerted” the Army authorities in the morning of February 27 itself that Army troops help would be required.