War of words after Kodnani order

Cong says BJP’s state govt destroyed evidence; ruling party accuses Oppn of victimising Maya Kodnani

The acquittal of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Maya Kodnani in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case in Ahmedabad triggered a political storm on Friday as the opposition Congress party termed the decision a “mockery of justice”.

The Congress unit in Gujarat accused the BJP-led state government, which is in power since 1998, of destroying evidence to weaken the case against Kodnani and 17 more people who were acquitted by the state’s high court on Friday. These 18 were among the 32 people convicted by a trial court in 2012.

“The BJP government has either destroyed the evidence or wilfully didn’t submit it in court,” alleged Paresh Dhanani, the Congress legislature party leader in the Gujarat assembly.

The BJP was quick to respond to the allegation. Parliamentarian and party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi accused the Congress of victimising Kodnani and implicating her in a “false case” when it ruled the country.

“Whether it was petitions for a probe into the (judge BH) Loya death case or the charges against Kodnani, they were all fabricated cases,” she said.

The trial court had said Kodnani was the “kingpin” of the Naroda Patiya killings during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and sentenced her to 28 years in jail.

The HC acquitted her citing lack of evidence, but upheld the conviction of 13, including Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, and convicted another three for the first time. One of those convicted by the trial court died.

Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia accused the prosecution for Friday’s verdict. “The HC con- victed Babu Bajrangi but acquitted Kodnani. Everybody knows that the SIT (special investigation team) was hand in glove with the accused and so was the Gujarat government … Prosecution lawyers drafted the affidavits of some of the accused,” he said .

Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who is also the legislator for Vadgam constituency, called for political unity among “anti-BJP forces” after the court’s decision.

“Though this is deeply disappointing that riot-accused Maya Kodnani is acquitted, we are not surprised. Destruction of democracy is at work systematically since 2014. The only option is to keep the fascist forces away from power in 2019...,” he said.

The BJPled government

(in Gujarat) has either destroyed the evidence or wilfully did not submit it in the court PARESH DHANANI, Congress leader Whether it was petitions for a probe into the (judge BH) Loya death case or the charges against (Maya) Kodnani, they were all fabricated... MEENAKSHI LEKHI, BJP MP