SC orders probe into Modi’s role in post-Godhra riots

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New Delhi: Even as his name was being propped up as BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani’s successor in 2014, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Monday suffered a setback of sorts after the Supreme Court ordered a probe into his possible role in the post-Godhra killings.

The apex court appointed special investigation team (SIT) investigating the 2002 riot killings, on Monday was told to submit a report within three months after inquiring into a complaint made by Jakia Nasim Ahesan, wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was brutally killed in the carnage. ‘‘SIT will inquire into the complaint made by the petitioner and file its report within three months,’’ a bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and AK Ganguly said. In her complaint, Jakia has accused Modi and 62 others of being party to the killings.

Seizing the opportunity, the Congress this evening termed the apex court order a ‘‘constitutional slap’’ on Modi and demanded that he resign immediately. ‘‘Can there be a bigger constitutional slap on the face of a constitutional functionary ... Earlier the court transferred all cases out of Gujarat and constituted the SIT. Now the Supreme Court has asked for a probe against a sitting chief minister,’’ party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here. ‘‘If he has any morality, he should resign. In fact, he should have resigned at least seven years ago. But he does not feel even remotely remorseful or has any regrets,’’ Singhvi added.

An embarrassed BJP, however, opted for offense as its best defence while rejecting demands for Modi’s resignation. Claiming that SC’s directions were not an indictment of the Gujarat chief minister, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said: ‘‘There is nothing against Modi. No enquiry has named Modi’’. Jaitley, incidentally, had endorsed the ‘‘Modi for PM in 2014’’ cry last week, first raised by former Union minister Arun Shourie. Jaitley further said that since the matter was pending before the SC, ‘‘the party would not like to say anything more’’ on the issue. He, however, attacked rival parties for raking up the Gujarat riot issue ahead of elections. ‘‘There had been a convention to raise the Gujarat issue ahead of elections. Just before the Bihar elections, Lalu Prasad released the Banerjee committee report,’’ he said.