Maya Kodnani seeks BJP chief’s presence in Naroda Gam case
Maya Kodnani, a former BJP minister and a convict in the Naroda Patiya riot case, wants BJP chief Amit Shah to defend her in a separate communal riot case of 2002.
A special court will hear from Monday Kodnani’s application, requesting summoning of Shah and 13 others in her defence in connection with the Naroda Gam massacre that took place during the 2002 communal riots in Ahmedabad. “Kodnani had moved the plea to summon Shah and 13 others earlier this month. Hearing on this matter will begin from Monday,” Amit Patel, Kodnani’s lawyer, said.
A gynaecologist running her nursing home in Asarwa, Kodnani was the women and child welfare minister in the then Narendra Modi government.
The application seeks to summon 14 persons under Section 233 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC). By summoning Shah and others, including her nursing home staff, Sola civil hospital staff and others, Kodnani will attempt to prove that at the time of riots in Naroda Gam on February 28 she was present at spots like Gujarat assembly, civil hospital, her home and other places, but not Naroda Gam. The riots broke out a day after Sabarmati Express’s S6 coach with Karsevaks was set ablaze in Godhra.
According to the application, by summoning Shah she wants to prove that she first met the then Sarkhej MLA in the assembly and then again at Sola Civil Hospital, where bodies of Karsevaks were brought, when the riots broke out. She has been accused of inciting violence and leading the mob that killed 11 people at Naroda Gam and was awarded life imprisonment in the Naroda Patiya case. On health grounds, the HC has granted her bail since 2014.
Centre has decided to upgrade the security of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to the highest Z-plus category, with protection detail from the elite National Security Guard (NSG).
“Yogi Adityanath is going to be an NSG protectee. Formal orders are expected soon,” a senior home ministry official said.
With this, Adityanath will join an elite club of politicians with just 12 other members.
The NSG specialises in providing security when the protectee is on the move. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also guarded by the NSG during his stint as the Gujarat chief minister.
Besides Adityanath, three other heavyweight politicians from Uttar Pradesh — former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati – also enjoy NSG protection.
VIP security is provided under four categories — Z-plus, Z, Y and X —in keeping with a threat perception analysis by the Intelligence Bureau. While state governments have their own protectee lists, prime ministers as well as former premiers are guarded by the Special Protection Group. Before this, Adityanath was guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force — under Y category — as the Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur.
People protected by the NSG are entitled to a bulletproof car, two escort vehicles and around 40 personnel each. While the NSG guards the chief minister from close quarters, the state police will have their own security arrangements in place under the Z-plus category. Though there has been demand for reducing the workload of the NSG, which is essentially a counter-terror and anti-hijacking commando force, the Centre is yet to come up with a credible alternative.
Malaysian PM Moham mad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdu Razak— who is in Chennai to receive an honorary doctorate from Thanjavur University — met actor Rajinikanth at his resi dence on Friday . Sources close to the actor said it was a courtesy call and had no special agenda.
“Just had a very warm and friendly meeting with Rajini kanth, the Tamil superstar at his home,” Razak Tweeted.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth dis missed rumours about becoming the brand ambassador of Malay sian tourism and denied he was making a foray into politics Addressing the media, he said, “I shot Kabali in Malaysia and couldn’t thank him (Razak). So he came and we had a cordial meet.”
He added, “I wasn’t offered to become a brand ambassador. Al these are rumours.”