Even as the victims' families voiced dismay at the Supreme Court's Monday judgment on the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders expressed delight at the verdict.
Zakia Jafri, who had petitioned the Supreme Court for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 63 others to be investigated for their complicity in the murder of her husband by a mob, voiced frustration and dismay at the verdict.
“What should I expect from the lower court if I did not get justice from the Supreme Court,” Ms. Jafri asked “I am totally disappointed.” However, Ms. Jafri said she did not intend to “give up” her struggle and would continue to fight for justice.
Few families of other riot victims were willing to discuss the judgment on record, but many appeared to share Ms. Jafri's disappointment. Imtiaz, a relative of one of those killed with Mr. Jafri at the Gulberg Society apartment complex in Ahmedabad, said the victims' families “never trusted the courts in Gujarat, but now the Supreme Court has sent us back to them.”
S.M. Vora, lawyer representing the victims in the court trying those so far charged with a role in the massacre, took a more nuanced position. He said, “There is no question of anyone winning or losing.” “For any criminal trial against anyone,” he explained, “the case has to come first to a magistrate's court, so the Supreme Court's order is on expected legal lines.”
Tanvir Jafri, Ms. Jafri's son, said he was “satisfied” with the order.
BJP leaders, who feared that the Supreme Court might order the prosecution of Mr. Modi, were happy. Gujarat Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, State government spokesperson, said the verdict had “completely rooted out” the serious allegations against the Chief Minister. Furthermore, “the Supreme Court has expressed full confidence in the judicial process of Gujarat,” he said.
Mr. Vyas also said, “Certain elements are working hard to obstruct the judicial process by any means and to give a political tint to these cases.” These elements, he said, “never wanted [the] victims to get justice, and therefore, even after so many years of the incidents, kept coming up with new allegations.”
Gujarat BJP spokesman Vijay Rupani said the verdict was a victory for Mr. Modi and the State government, and a “slap in the face of his detractors.”
Mr. Modi himself refused to comment on the issue, but a three-word statement published on his Twitter feed a couple of hours after the judgment made clear his relief: “God is great.”
Congress disputes claim
The State unit of the Congress, however, disputed claims that Mr. Modi had been given a clean chit. Shaktisinh Gohil, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and a lawyer, argued that the BJP was “misrepresenting” the Supreme Court's order.
In fact, Mr. Gohil said, “The State police had refused to take any complaint against the Chief Minister and others, but now under the Supreme Court order, the magisterial court will have to take cognizance of both the reports of the Special Investigation Team and the court's amicus curiae.”
Keywords: Gujarat riots case, Ehsan Jafri murder, Zakia Jafri plea, Gulberg Society massacre, Narendra Modi, SIT probe, Supreme Court
I wish some readers stop making doomsday statements about the future of Indian Muslims in the country based on the SCs verdict. If the highest institution of justice in the country has awarded a decision it is in the interest of democracy and the country that we are mature enough to accept it or challenge it according to the due processes of law,and not interpret it so drastically as a anti-Muslim verdict, or a conspiracy theory.The atmosphere is vitiated enough already by hate mongers of all religions.Such interpretations will only cause further divide in the mindsets of people.The Supreme Court has been the final recourse for thousands and has pronounced verdicts that have for the most part been assessed as just.For those making mischievous statements of Indian Muslims losing faith in the judicial system etc.,think, just try to think, if all these comments are in any way true in the first place, and secondly, if any good is going to result of your slandering and vilifying.
It is indeed disappointing that the Supreme Court has not concluded the case of Gujarat pogrom presided over by the CM Narendra Modi. Even after evidences from various IPS officers, victims and others, Supreme Court cannot prosecute the CM. If at all police or army had been deployed after the eruption of mob violence, the mob could have been controlled within 2 to 3 hours. Logically, the mob frenzy had been let for three days so that they can vent their anger after the Godhra train burning. Today is the day when justice has been defeated and fundamentalism has succeeded. Indian Muslims have lost faith in judicial system after Babri Masjid verdict and the Supreme Court's clean chit to Narendra Modi.
Feel sorry for Zakia Jaffri. Why do we see all this in Gujarat, where Mahatma Gandhiji was born who believed in non-violent? What is the future of the state? Why did Modi allowed such actions? May Ehsan Jaffri have peace in heaven.
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