War of words after Kodnani order
NARODA PATIYA CASE Cong says BJP’S state govt destroyed evidence; ruling party accuses Oppn of victimising Maya Kodnani
The Bjpled Whether it was government petitions for a probe (in Gujarat) has either into the (judge BH) Loya destroyed the evidence death case or the charges or wilfully did not against (Maya) Kodnani, submit it in the court. they were all fabricated... PARESH DHANANI, Congress leader MEENAKSHI LEKHI, BJP MP
NEWDELHI: 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.
A fire guts a coach of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, returning from Ayodhya, at the Godhra train station in Gujarat; 59 are killed in the blaze.
Hindu mobs rampage through Muslim neighbourhoods as communal riots break out in several cities across Gujarat. In three days, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus are killed
Hours after Godhra train burning, a thousands-strong mob reaches Naroda Patiya – a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Ahmedabad. The mobs, instigated allegedly by BJP and Bajrang Dal activists, kill 97 people
Gujarat police start investigations, and Maya Kodnani — a state legislator at the time —is not among suspects named in the FIR
Kodnani’s name first appears in survivor accounts shared with the Nanavati-shah commission set up to inquire into the Godhra train burning and subsequent riots. Witnesses also name Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi
Kodnani is named in an investigation that is taken over by a special investigation team on the direction of the SC.
Kodnani, Bajrangi and 29 others are convicted by special court for the Naroda Patiya killings. Kodnani is given a 28-year prison term and Bajrangi ordered to spend rest of his life in prison
The Gujarat government led by Narendra Modi clears the way for prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Kodnani and others in a higher court, but reverses its stand in September
Gujarat high court grants Kodnani bail after accepting her plea that she is unwell
Appeals against Kodnani and Bajrangi’s conviction and sentence are filed at the high court. Between 2014 and 2016, seven judges recuse themselves from the hearing
High court acquits Kodnani, giving her the benefit of doubt, after noting inconsistencies in testimonies. HC also reduces Bajrangi’s sentence to 21 years