Says they made investigation difficult, as witnesses were not prepared to speak out before Special Investigation Team
Chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team R.K. Raghavan, was highly critical of the petition filed in the Supreme Court by Zakia Jafri levelling sweeping charges against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 officials and leaders for their alleged involvement in the 2002 communal riots.
Agreeing with his inquiry officer, A. K. Malhotra, who found most of the allegations baseless and unsubstantiated and gave a clean chit to Mr. Modi and most of his senior police officers in handling the riots, Mr. Raghavan said Ms. Jafri's charges made Mr. Malhotra's task difficult, as the witnesses were not prepared to speak out before the SIT.
Pointing out that Mr. Malhotra had to handle the arduous task almost single-handedly because “associating any Gujarat police officer in such a sensitive inquiry would not have been desirable,” Mr. Raghavan said another factor that caused hurdles for the inquiry officer was the “reluctance of many crucial witnesses to depose frankly and without inhibition, because the complainants had ‘mindlessly and mechanically' referred to these witnesses as ‘accused,' a branding that caused a great offence to many of the witnesses.”
Mr. Raghavan lauded Mr. Malhotra for his “outstanding work,” completing the task of inquiring into 32 allegations levelled by Ms. Jafri against Mr. Modi and 62 others within a year, examining more than 160 witnesses and checking on a large number of documents. For reasons of confidentiality, even the secretarial assistance to him was “modest:” only one person did the “scriptory work.” Besides, most of the witnesses were “non-co-operative” and intentionally delayed appearing before him. The lapse of eight years before the investigation started also caused witnesses problems in recalling the facts correctly, he said.
Mr. Raghavan, a former CBI director, submitted his comments on the findings of the inquiry in the Supreme Court on May 14, 2010, and these have formed part of the closure report the SIT submitted in an Ahmedabad metropolitan court. A copy was given to Ms. Jafri, wife of the slain former Congress MP, Ehsan Jafri, who was among the 69 killed in the Gulberg Society massacre.
Mr. Raghavan agreed with Mr. Malhotra's conclusion that the allegation that Mr. Modi issued a “directive” to police officers to “allow Hindus to vent their anger” had “not been established,” as none of the officers “definitely present” at the crucial meeting held at his residence on the night of February 27, 2002, corroborated the claim made by suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. Mr. Bhatt was an “unreliable witness.” There was no proof that the then Minister of State for Revenue, Haren Pandya, was present at the meeting, as he had claimed before the Citizens' Tribunal.
He also agreed with the finding that the decision to bring the bodies of the victims of the Godhra train carnage to Ahmedabad was taken unanimously by all police and administrative officers and the Ministers present in Godhra that day. The then Panchamahals Collector, Jayanti Ravi, also agreed to it.
He disagreed with the complainant that it was Mr. Modi's personal decision meant to inflame the situation by “parading the bodies,” pointing out that the bodies were brought in the dead of night and disposed of in the quickest possible time the next day.
And there was nothing to substantiate the charge that two senior Ministers were “instructed” by the Chief Minister to take charge of the State and city police control rooms on February 28, 2002, when ‘Gujarat Bandh' was observed. It was “conclusively established” that the late Ashok Bhatt, who was Health Minister, and I. K. Jadeja, the then Urban Development Minister, did visit the police control rooms, but there was no evidence that they ever “interfered” with the functioning of the police, or that they were told by Mr. Modi to sit in the control rooms. But as Mr. Modi himself held the Home portfolio, it did “heighten the suspicion that the decision had his blessings.”
Mr. Raghavan disagreed that there was undue delay in summoning and deploying the Army in the riot-hit areas, or Mr. Modi deliberately “ignored” Ehsan Jafri's plea for help when the riotous mob surrounded the Gulberg Society. No records were available to corroborate the allegations, he said, agreeing with the finding that the mobile call records did not show Mr. Modi having received any call from Ehsan Jafri or anyone else in the Gulberg Society, and accepting the Chief Minister's statement that he had never known Ehsan Jafri before the incident.
Mr. Raghavan did not agree that Mr. Modi was issuing “illegal instructions” orally, as alleged by the former Additional Director-General of Police, R. B. Sreekumar, in affidavits filed before the G.T. Nanavati-Akshay Mehta Judicial Inquiry Commission. Mr. Sreekumar's personal diary in which he made entries about such “illegal oral instructions” was an “unofficial document” he was not authorised to maintain, and had no “evidentiary value whatsoever.” Besides, some of the entries in the diary were found factually incorrect. It was significant that Mr. Sreekumar revealed the existence of such a diary three years after he had opened it and only after he was superseded in promotion; he produced only a copy of the diary before the SIT.
But Mr. Raghavan said the transfer of a few police officers amid the raging riots, especially those who were claimed to have done a good job in controlling the violence, were surprising, but none of the police officers was prepared to admit that they were victimised. The Chief Minister himself admitted that he did not visit the riot-hit areas so promptly as he visited Godhra on the day of the train carnage and could not cite any specific reason for the delay. Mr. Modi had not been able to totally deny his alleged statement that private firing by Ehsan Jafri had “provoked” the Gulberg Society massacre, or his reported theory of “action-reaction” to justify the riots, but Mr. Raghavan emphasised that the undertone of all his statements was an “earnest appeal” to the people for peace. He agreed that Mr. Modi failed to give any directive to Hindu organisations against the observance of the bandh in view of the charged atmosphere.
He found that the appointment of some of the special public prosecutors for the trial of the riot-related cases was politically motivated, but said a “transparent procedure” was in place for the appointment, and it was followed by the government.
Mr. Raghavan questioned Mr. Sreekumar's “intentions” in alleging that he was “tutored” by some officials of the Chief Minister's office to give guarded statements on the riots before various probe agencies to protect Mr. Modi and his government. Mr. Sreekumar levelled the allegations not while filling the affidavits before the Nanavati-Mehta Commission, but only when he was superseded, and his junior was promoted as DGP in 2005.
Mr. Raghavan termed “incorrect and motivated” Citizens for Justice and Peace general secretary Teesta Setalvad's charge that Hindu activists conducted two meetings at Lunawada and Borwai, near Godhra, on Fabruary 27 and 28 to hatch plans for a pogrom against minorities, and that the meetings were attended by two members of Mr. Modi's Cabinet. After a thorough probe, the SIT found that the charge was “incorrect and motivated;” there was no evidence for any such meeting having taken place at all, and there was no question of any Minister having attended it.
Keywords: R.K. Raghavan, Zakia Jafri, Chairman of SIT, Godhra riots, 2002 riots
It must be said to the credit of Mr.Raghavan that he has,to the
best of his abilities,tried to save Modi!But,unfortunately,the'time
factor has rendered Modi's Theories,now,as never before, unreliable
and his stand 'indefensible'!
FALLACIES IN MODI'S THEORY
1."Gulberg Society carnage" took place"within 26 hours"from
the'tragedy of burning of a bogey near Godhra station on 27th
February,2002.
2. The victims were 59 "kar Sevaks" of VHP only but they were
purposely depicted as "Hindu Karsevaks" to foment communal clashes.
3. Not only Bhatt but "Tehelka expose" also stressed that Baba
Bajrangi declared that Modibhai had given them "Three day's
amnesty"!Raghavan's objection sagainst Bhatt's assertion shows
"colourable exercise of authority of the chairman of SIT!
4.Mere acceptance of the fact that two Ministers were in Police
control rooms proves that a sinister design was in operation,
5. TV coverage and a Supreme Court judge have commented on "police
inaction caused by Modi
When he was entrusted with the investigation of Zakia Jaffri's petition by the Supreme Court, Dr RKRaghavan had called her petition THE BIBLE. What had happened to him now to virtually call THE BIBLE a bundle of LIES, created by a woman of doubtful virtues.? Signs of some DARK DEAL staring at the victims of one of the gruesome tragedies that struck in the 21st century INDIA. Can Indians witness the TRIUMPH OF TRUTH in the near future?
At first it was R. K. Raghavan as defence counsel for Mr. Modi.
Now Manas Dasgupta takes the role of counsel for Mr. Raghavan! As
a reader of nearly 70 years, I am at a loss to understand why and
how The Hindu has lost its balance regarding this SIT report.
During the past few days, how many times you have repeated the
blatantly partisan comments in Raghavan's report dubbing everyone
who testfied against Narendra Modi as 'unreliable',
'untrustworthy', 'tainted', ‘motivated’ ‘afterthought’ etc. He
says former ADGP Sreekumar’s diary entries have no evidentiary
value as the diary was not authorized. Is an authorization
necessary for an official to maintain a personal diary? He
questions both Sanjiv Bhatt and Sreekumar about the delay in
their coming out with their affidavits. With such a vindictive
C.M., will any officer risk his career by testifying against his
bosses unless and until they are compelled by circumstances?
I wonder why nobody raises the question why Mr. Raghavan chose
himself to be absent when the principal personality, C.M.
Narendra Modi, presented himself before the SIT for giving
testimony with fanfare after lot of dilly-dallying? Probably they
had enough talks among themselves privately, and nothing new was
expected during the formal testimony?
Mr/Ms Geena, I think your shoutings and frustrations are totally uncalled. do you think Mr. Sreekumar and Mr. Sanjeev bhatt are honest guys? they kept silent for a long time and after they din't get promotions as they expected they are coming up with all these evidences! Mr. Sreekumar was head of StampIT in karnataka which was the committe investigating the Stamp paper scam appointed by congress govt. and even a single Congress person was indicted in his report even though there were hundreds of wrongdoings by CM & HM at that time so this clearly gives a hint that he was a congress paid agent. same story goes with Mr. Sanjeev bhatt.. Atlast do you have the same feelings towards the victims of Godhra train burning? I don't understand why should Indian Muslims deserve so much care where Hindus are not even remembered for sake? It's high time that people understand these forign sponsored media & pseudo-secular parties and throw them out.
This is a report of SIT appointed by the supremecourt.Let us give credit to ths.Let the truth be trusted.
RK Raghavan has been compromised and nothing else.He is sure to get a plum post from BJP once they come to power in the center.He should stop writing about ethics in public life and in police and continue his path in exploiting his connections for his advancement.
I would urge Mr. Rajdeep Serdesai - (CNN IBN), to read this report and now broadcast a non-biased program on Gujarat riots & Mr. Modi. The truth is out in public now.
I hope he realizes the truth and stops unethical propoganda against Gujarat & Mr. Modi.
All these allegations and counter allegations against Modi reminds me of the
situation of Israel vs PLO . Whenever any Israel Govt - elected by the people to run
the country , reciprocated in a democratic manner to counter the acts of an
organisation like the PLO the whole world reprimanded Israel and not the PLO !. A
Government has responsibilities and when executing it's responsibilities there may
be untoward incidents. But an organisation is not elected, it acts on the basis of
the whims and fancies of the chieftains who are not accountable and an untoward
incident is what they want to achieve !. All are men. They all act with convictions !.
Yet an elected man is always under scrutiny !. Mistakes are blown out of
proportions even though they maybe accidental. However a mistakes of
organisations go unnoticed.
What should be investigated are the steps that Narendra Modi and his police force took to maintain peace immediately after the train burning. Since it was a group of pilgrims of one particular religion who were burned to death, it was as clear as daylight that there is a high chance of a riot. Since any responsible CM's first and foremost responsibility would be protection of the lives of people in his state ('development' comes only second), the next course of action would have been a public address to maintain calm and deploy the security forces in large numbers. From the scale of the riots that happened, this seems to have been not done at all. If this was intentional, it is a criminal offense. If it was unintentional, it is criminal negligence on part of the CM. In either case, this CM had failed miserably in his duty, and he has to answer for it.
The media has to survive with spicy news,for survival, irrespective of the facts behind news. There were reporters in India who use to analyse, then write columns, giving full facts. See the way the media works today, defaming India in the eyes of world, leave alone worthy and healthy news to locals.Let the blame for the past bad episode go to both communities' bad elements, and be buried.
Has the Gujarat Muslim population discarded Modi!! NO. The way they voted him to power speaks for it.The whole muslim community is intact and co-existing with society. This is because of the GOOD work he has done to the society and making all to live in harmony. My 25 years living will vouch to it. This is a GOD blessed state.
The media should be unbiased. Let it publish and Highlight so many good things Mr.Modi has done to Gujarat and to India. Let the good governance be appreciated openly by the Media. I can mail a big list, if they want.
@arshad Common Arshad,
Please check that atleast in this particular riot, the victims have got justice and more than 50 rioters are jailed. Have you ever seen any justice in case of riots in the 60 years of Indian independence. Also all of the judgements were given by the State's judiciary rather than Supreme Court or any other judiciary created by center.
No one can deny that riots in 2002 were the reaction of what happened in
Godhra on 27 feb,2007. Similarly it can not be denied that it was Eshan
Jaafri who in spite of pacifying the people gathered at Gulberg society
fired at them from his personal pistol was the immediate cause that
sparked the riots in Gulberg society. Thanks to Modi, who controlled the
riots with firm hand and brought the peaceful era in Ahmadabad and
showed the path of development to Gujarat Only the persons who see there
carrier in downgrading Modi are crying fowls
People who think that the act at Godhra railway station was the action
by MUSLIMS, please read the book "India after Gandhi" by Mr. Ramachandra
Guha, and then you will realise the concept of the third law of motion.
secondly, Nobody wants to bring justice to the Mrs Jafri as it was a
breakdown of not only state government but also from central command who
failed to implement the presidents's rule and also the failure of
governor who had power to stop the entire massacre but they all let this
to happen for 3 whole days.
who initiated this riots, it is by a minority community mob and set afire of the train compartment. why these news were not reported and highlighted in any of the news media?
The well-endowed and well-entrenched NGOs (represented by Smt. Teesta et al) have already tried and convicted Narendra Modi. What they wanted was just a compliment and approval from the Supreme Court. And now they are disappointed a lot and so are some of the leading Angrezi media houses, one of them proclaiming that Shri Raghavan has been bought over by Modi for just a flight ticket to London (and Mr. Raghavan'wife is related to the wife of a senior Gujarat-cadre babu, apparently a favourite of Modi the arch-villain)! The Hindu has not descended to this low, not yet.
Thanks for uploading the full content of SIT, as against TOI mostly biased report against Modi only and widening the enmity between two community.
Hats off editor.
I am really impressed to see that many people are still awaiting for the justice to prevail. It is due to the fact that secular and peace-loving people outnumber the fanatics, India remains largely intact with the secular thread.
I salute Mrs. Zakia Jaferi, the widow of slain MP Ehsan Jaferi, who is fighting assiduously for justice. Her charge that Modi did not act when the mass-murder of Muslims in Gujarat was going on, is really sensible and even a teen ager can understand it.
Godhra riot report looks like the Americans looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I million people were killed in Iraq and GW Bush is golfing in his ranch. The world has fallen silent on Bush's massive misdeeds. Iraq invasion happened one year after Godhra. Blair resigned as PM in UK , but Bush went scot free. Geena , what was Bush's action compared to Modi. GWB crossed seven seas and mauled a secular nation. Godhra looks drop in the ocean in front of Iraq.
Supreme Court should investigate the SIT.
If the report had nailed Mr Modi, the so called secularist would have been doing Bhangra on the streets. They dont care about the truth but TRUTH SHALL PREVAIL
The above angry ranting by Ms/Mr Geena is completely uncalled for. She/He sounds eerily cynical. The SIT had been appointed by the Supreme Court of India in all its wisdom. It was not a politically appointed body. To ascribe motives to the members of such a well chosen body-just because they do not agree with your expected version of 'truth' and 'righteousness'-would not just be wrong to these highly respected officers but also inimical to our polity. Just because a certain individual has 'fought' for something does not make it the truth. The SC would go into its veracity and come up with a decision. We should wait before passing any verdict on our own- Of course only if one has not already decided to paint the judges as stooges of political parties doling out decisions in order corner some largess !
Well done job. I can imagine how tough it would have been to handle. Your point by point rebuttal to Ms Jafri's allegations is great. There ware lot of political forces at hand on this probe ...but you and your team....it was a job well done. Now, Ms/Mr. Geena - in a court of law - evidence should be perfect & beyond doubt. Sure Mr. Sreekumar or Mr. Sanjiv Bhatt have an axe to grid. How can i believe that they are telling the truth now? Both of them caused damage to their reputation and service by their own actions. About IPS promotions...there is a well laid procedure and if some wants to complain...they can proceed to the Administrative Tribunal or even approach the supreme court. The fact that Mr. Sreekumar choose not to do....says acceptance or presence of valid reason. (they could have found a more qualified person). Truth-it is not what is printed in media for TRP or breaking news section...A painstaking effort has been executed and a report has been presented. Jai Hind
Its time for Modi Ji to aim at PM.....
History are always manipulated for a reason. Let us forget for all the greatness he has done to Gujarat. May he be the PM and represent our country as a developed nation.
Those who accuse Mr Raghavan are nothing but hypocrites. If Mr Raghavan is looking for any favour same can be said about loads of journalists, teesta etc who are awaiting RS membership just like Mr Shukla of BCCI fame. Mr Raghavan has proved beyond doubt that these stooges of congress had made false and motivated allegations against Modi.
looks like people like Geena will not accept the truth. Maybe you people will only accept some mulla's judgement from afghanistan saying Mr.Modi is guilty. As far as Modi is concerned he is clean and does not have to bother. Also please look around and see who have been made governors by Congress. Shame on You.
Geena - Mr. Raghavan's job is not to make the likes of you happy. His job is to present the truth before the people of the nation. He has indeed done a tremendous job of exposing the truth. SIT was not constituted to prove that Modi had erred, but it was to find out the truth behind the statements of rogues like Sanjiv Bhatt, Mr. Sreekumar and Teesta Setalvad. When action-reaction theory was mooted for burning of the train at Godhra, did you or the likes of you ever feel the pinch? Theory going around was that train was burnt because karsevaks 'teased a muslim girl' and 'fought with a muslim tea vendor'. In other words, karsevaks asked to be killed. These riots will go down in the history as being planned and initiated by a group for fomenting trouble, and a man who sincerely tried to stop it being victimized for life.
Tight slap on all Modi-baiters and paid media..!
I some time feel amused when some one changes his/her opinion about someone just because you do not agree with them irrespective of what is right or wrong. I think its high time people realize that all the allegations against Mr. Modi are fabricated and Govt sponsored. As they know that he is the one leader who is capable of ripping corruption apart and throw all these corrupt leaders out of the country or behind bars. That is the reason Govt, some paid activists and biased media houses are behind this man. They never talk about all the development done by him. While the whole country was growing at snails pace Gujarat developed at 11%, it has highest investment, they are one of the self sufficient states in terms of electricity with 24 hours electricity throughout the state yet these paid goons cry about him in media. why don't they go after Sick riots culprits and so many other riots culprits. They will not go as they are paid to bark against Mr. Modi. Soon he will be out P.M.
Now that Modi has been absolved of all the charges, he can concentrate on taking the state to greater heights. I don't care what his critics say, he is surely the best CM the country has ever had. If any one has any problems with him, they can leave Gujrat and go and live on other states which is run by the corrupt.
The sequence of events presented by Raghavan in his blatantly one sided report gives ample evidence to believe that he is under some compulsions to exonerate Narendra Modi,absolve him of all sins committed by him post Godhra,give him a clean chit and pave the way clear for his ascendancy in national politics.Alas! It is a pity that Raghavan has purposely failed to hear the agonising cries of thousands of innocent men,women and children brutally massacred by the hooligans and by trying to bury their cries fathoms deep,he has not only disappointed the nation and the peace loving people who wanted the culprits irrespective of the position they hold / held punished but also has warranted nemesis for the said most heinous and criminal acts to befall the nation. ET tu Raghavan?
Dear Raghavan Sir: I had a deep respect for you with all of your great articles on frontline but now it will be deem.. It looks like that you have followed a criteria that all people talking against modi has 'bad' intentions and all people talking in favour of modi has 'Good' intentions..
I agree with Mr. Raghvan Observations. Had Modi at fault 10 years is long enough time to prosecute the culprit especially when CBI, Media, Judiciary and NGOs which are in direct or indirect control of central non BJP government. I am firm believer that Modi did everything right to control the situation at the same time ensured this sort of things do not happen in future. During this there might be some deaths happened from either community for no fault of them. But who can control the mob only modi in 3 days Gujarat was back to normalcy unlike 1984 Delhi and India, 1988 Kashmir or many more in past which kept happening for weeks and months.
very good comment Geena. you have exposed the former CBI director, he himself justify the Gujarat pogrom that is unacceptable. Truth shall stand even Modi become the Prime minister, Truth will prevail in due course. Sathyameva jayathe.
Geena, The credentials of the so called people who are fighting a long battle are doing so for their own reasons supported by jealous forces... . Its basically obsession of people who will not rest till they see a report blaming modi. Less spoken abt the credentials of the so called activists the better.. I dont know wht their problem in life is. Is it a well known fact that some ppl lied to the court? The truth everyone know? Care to elaborate whether its the truth or ur perception?
I'm tempted to call this SRT Report (Special Rescue Team Report). The blatant partisanship of this report is shocking; the report discredits everyone who said anything against Mr.Modi - whether it is Mr.Bhatt or Jafri's wife. And it goes on to say that Mr.Jaffri brought it upon himself - what a cruel finding !
The Hindu has repeatedly published the photograph of Mrs. Zakia Jafri. Just one curious question. Did it ever occur to the Editor to publish at least once the photograph of the Sabarmati Express holocust victims or their family members (even one person)? Or any of the Sikhs or Kashmiri pundits, victims of Congress party and Muslim-Jihadi violence respectively. Looks like The Hindu has set up its own requirements for victimhood.
Geena does not contradict any findings by SIT Instead repeats same lies perpetuated by Teesta & team. They are thinking shouting lies many times it will become truth. It is high time these people who plant untruths,create false evidences and false witnesses etc are bought to book.
But it will go into the annals of history as a State sponsored terrorism.. and you will be hailed as a man who moderated and manipulated the course of natural justice.. your report not only brushes aside the long fight by a few people who stood for the righteous - let it be Mr Jafri, Mrs Teesta Setalvad, Mr Bhatt and Mr Sreekumar.. but it was also a heavy blow in the face of the people who will stand against the wrongdoers even in the face of heavy odds, an entire state machinery functioning against them.. you had dismissed the proofs from all the sources at flimsy reasons.. Mr sreekumar - becos he was superseded (is that the integrity of a man whom your own IPS cadre had chosen to raise to the rank of a DGP- then the system of promotions in IPS should undergo a revaluation) i have a lot to say.. but time and space doesn't permit.. but any one reading the report and who had followed up the incident can easily tell you that your findings are not justifiable.. the truth every one know
Dear Mr Raghavan Well Done Mr Raghavan.. A very good cover up.. now you can look forward to become governor of some state..(lets pray BJP will be in power for that) I had a great regard towards you , when i used to read your articles about the police reforms and restructuring of our police forces on the lines of scotland yard forces etc etc.. which you used to write in frontline and various other magazines.. thought you are an intelligent cop.. yes indeed you are.. becos u flow with the wind of opportunities.. I don't have any doubt in my mind in accepting that Mr Narendra Modi presently is the best Chief Minister India does have, a man with vision, a statesman, a technocrat, a good administrator all converged in one man.. he had taken the infrastructural development of that state to new heights.. BUT the question remains " was his actions as the chief Minister of Gujarat, during the blackest moments of History - the Godra carnage..justifiable?" you may give any reasons for the cover up
Mr. Modi is innocent and unnecessarily congress is wasting the public money to prove him guilty.
I don't understand what is the meaning of 1."It was 'conclusively established' that the late Ashok Bhatt, who was Health Minister, and I. K. Jadeja, the then Urban Development Minister, did visit the police control rooms, but there was no evidence that they ever 'interfered' with the functioning of the police, or that they were told by Mr. Modi to sit in the control rooms" 2.Mr. Sreekumar's personal diary in which he made entries about such 'illegal oral instructions' was an 'unofficial document' he was not authorised to maintain, and had no 'evidentiary value whatsoever.' Besides, some of the entries in the diary were found factually incorrect. It was significant that Mr. Sreekumar revealed the existence of such a diary three years after he had opened it and only after he was superseded in promotion; 3.accepting the Chief Minister's statement that he had never known Ehsan Jafri before the incident. Like these above what Mr.Ragavan says.......................
Thank you The Hindu for publishing this. Nicely put. Teesta Setlvad has been actively pursuing her career by making modi target, she knows once the case closed she has no where to go unless malign some other BJP leader. It has been proven doubt that it is a conspiracy against modi to keep him out of national politics by congress. Hope SC puts a lid on it for good.
It is so sad to see an older lady fighting for justice. People in power just don't seem to understand human emotions, or simply don't care about it. Mr.Raghavan must seriously introspect about the report he has submitted to the court. As mentioned by several legal luminaries, his report is full of contradictions and anomalies. As someone responsible to bring the perpetrators to justice, it seems he has compromised. If he has indeed compromised, the courts must punish him and all others involved in the act severely. Satyameva Jayate
Satyamev Jayate. Truth has to prevail. Had Teesta been a Modi supporter she would have been dragged over burning coal for lies and disinformation she has been spreading. But alas! Indian media has two yardsticks for measuring the events, especially the English media. How many more trials Modi has to stand to prove his innocence. Please be fair in discharging your Editorial Dharma.
There are conflicting versions on many issues.The victims should get justice.At the same time no body should be tried on false charges. Various vested interests are in full play.Much resources are in use.The media is keeping the issues in limelight for obvious reasons.The political nature of campaign can not be overlooked.There are cover ups even as witnesses are 'procured' and 'tutored'. Big forces are silently playing crucial roles.There are hidden agendas.People should not be guided by motivated elements. The healing wounds are being opened.Communal divide is sought to be perpetuated.Mutual trust is declining.Saner elements withdraw from the scene.The vested interests have a field day.The situation is grim.Let good sense prevail all around.
This is very clear congress is making muslim vote bank politics and misusing CBI & others for its evil political ends. Congress is also ready to falsely accuse Hindus for this. What about 1984 sikh riots when congress party killed sikhs ???
Finally someone reported the facts on the SIT report and did not provide his/her biased personal opinion; Good Job Manas! I believe that SIT has done wonderful job under so much pressure. SIT report not only gives clean chit to Narandra Modi but also shows the real face of so called activists who are congress agents. This report clearly establishes that this particular case is based on falsehood. This report also establishes that these so called activists and biased media spreaded false information in the public domain about the parading of bodies of the victims of the Godhra train carnage. I think media should be little more responsible and should check the facts before publishing it.
Mr. Raghavan was one of the most incompetent CBI directors - (aren't they all- being part of such a politicized investigating agency?). He kept his reputation as the chairman of the SIT as well!
I am not saying there was a no crime against humanity. However, the fauj of activist are gratified by political forces. The simple purpose of Modi is strong nationalist and does not tolerate the plundering of mother India. I have witnessed more than 300 muslims burned alive in big pit in Surat Katargam Ved road area in 1992. I think Congress was in power at Gujarat and Delhi. Why there is no investigation and why that Pogrom is not being discussed by the very same fauj. The simple logic is stop Modi else he will stop us from eating national wealth. Gujarati has understood this fact after paying heavy price. Hindustan times, Times of India and many those media house are totally against the natural Justice and they are out to twist every fact by using their power. We Gujarati understand the Modi is against all kinds of religious profiling of anything and he won't tolerate nonsense Hindus and so he doesn't tolerate nonsense Muslims as well for sake of vote bank.
The Hindu has often published many articles of Raghavan and I hope you hold him in high esteem. The above article has been full of Quotes as if to besmirch his conclusions on Gujarat Probe. Once you have headlined Raghavan says so,there is no need to Quote each and every word. Jarring to read and also makes the intention of Manas Dasgupta suspect. Your slanted reporting against Modi is not going well in neutral reader's minds.
Very good report from Manas. I feel if you read the same report upside down with a heading "Modi managed Raghavan to counter jefri's charges" a reader might conclude differently. Let's wait for Raju Ramachandran report and London TKt issue for final verdict.
It is unfortunate that Mr.Raghavan SIT chief had rejected the record kept by Sreekumar Additional DG of Police regarding the instructions givern by Modi unacceptable in his judgment.The stand of some officers who were present in the meting convened by Modi that Modi did not give advice to the officials to permit Hindus to take revenge on Muslims for Godhra murders only shows that most of the present day officers lack professional integrity and they want to be on the right side of the Rulers.It is difficult to accept that Raghavan has acted in a honorable manner and he was only interested in saving Modi
I'm afraid Mr. Raghavan has failed to discharge his mission objectively and impersonally. If this is the standard of judiciary in India, God help the country so badly handled by its powerful servants supposed to protect people from politicians who are ready to exploit the former.
Did Raghavan loose his near and dear ones to any mob frenzy at any time? It is pretty easy to pass rude comments and get away in India. A lady who is fighting tooth and nail to get justice is getting this kind of response? what a shame.
The Hindu doing great job of reporting from the SIT closure report.
Mr.Raghavan is a god sent man! Truth alone triumphs! atlast the truth has been out
And that is the truth,nothing but truth and only truth. Any amount of trickery by Central Govt; and the Congress to involve Modi legally and see him out-of-bounds for the forth coming assembly elections will be futile and sure to recoil. Congress beware, SATYAMEVA JAYATE.
R K Raghavan fails to explain why Sanjiv Bhatt is an unreliable witness. He fails to explain why RSS and VHP functionaries who have made statements to Tehelka journalists on video attributing 'CM told police to let hindu mobs kill', are also unreliable. It's deeply shameful for a professional like him to deny the truths in the lust of a BJP seconded post-retirement job opportunity.
It is sad that so many innocent persons, both Muslims and Hindus died in the communal riots that followed the deliberate burning by a Muslim mob of railway coaches at Godhra railway stations that led to to the deaths about innocent 60 Hindu men, women and children. The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team has not found any evidence that the allegations against Gujarat Chief Minister and 62 officials and leaders for their alleged involvement in the 2002 communal riots are true. Yet, some in the media, including the Hindu, are attacking them while at the same time remaining silent on the horrific Godhra incident which led to the communal riots. Such biased reporting only aids the communal elements on both sides of the religious divide.
Will Raghavan say that there was no massacre, 2000 people were never killed, there was no CM called Modi, and no state called Gujarat as all the claims are baseless and unsubstantiated and wipe out the state of Gujarat off the map of India?
Even a first year student of law can clearly see through the bias of the SIT report and the valiant efforts indulged to protect the guilty by trashing most allegations as baseless and unsubstantiated. The report of Raghavan is for the most part his opinions. Why should Raghavan be highly critical of Zakia Jafri's petition to SC? It is the prerogative of the Court to reach a conclusion.That Mr. Bhatt was an 'unreliable witness' is a matter of opinion. He was forced to admit that two ministers were present in the police control room but that there was no evidence or charges that they were instructed by the CM who is also the home minister.Mr. Raghavan disagreed that Mr. Modi was issuing 'llegal instructions' orally, as alleged by the former Additional DGP, as his personal diary in which he made entries about such 'illegal oral instructions' was an 'unofficial document' he was not authorised to maintain, and had no 'evidentiary value whatsoever' and later he was superseded in promotion.
mr ragahvan: there was no evidence for any such ........this and this........ having taken place at all. no riots happened at all.there was no evidence for any such .....so much time has passed no body may recall what happened, possibly all were killed due to plague or malaria this we can suggest only after interventions of experts and may take another one year, but narendra modi has no connection with rat or mosquito lobby.there was no evidence for any such ........this and this........ having taken place at all. **If CBI were able to find evidence then why all these gotalas have taken place. why our corrupt netas have flourished, and what a courage, only one person carried out all negotiations to hide and remove all evidences..((there was no evidence for any such ........this and this........ having taken place at all.))) ALAS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Among all of the incidents happened in Gujarat during riots, Gulberg society case is being discussed by media out of the proportion. It's very difficult to find any coverage regarding victims of Godhra train carnage. People should realise their agony also. Politics of condoning a particular sect and reprimanding another is not in interest of country. People involved in riots were also normal citizens and we should contemplate about the root cause which led them to resort to such massive violence. Even after 10-12 yrs later, people are involved in making accusations on each other for favouring a particular sect. Let the court decide the matters and please stop media trial. Rather than, we should focus on to develop suitable mechanism to prevent recurrence of such incidents in our society.
Please differentiate between news and opinion. Also, often times the news appears on the inside pages of the print edition and the opinion appears on the front page as headline! When will the media admit and say they are sorry for repeating the accusations for 10 years? Why does the media still use words such as 'pogrom', 'state sponsored'? If one alleged sentence by Modi... the so called 'action reaction' statement caused this whole riot, then we should also accept that 10 years of lies in media is the cause of making this whole topic 'communal' and 'polarized'. It is the media who has seen this episode with colored glasses and continue to do so. Yes the riot had happened and it was unfortunate. Lot of innocents lost their lives. May god give sense and understanding to all.
The entire episode of attempts on crucifying Modi on some or other counts to make maximum damage to Modi has been hatched by the Congress party who are behind Zakia Zafri to mislead her in making repeated false claims on Modi's involvement on the massacre of Muslims, following the train burning incident.Even after repeated investigations by several agencies nothing came out to prove that modi was involved . The congress party and the woman Zakia Zafri stand isolated and it is now left to the Honourable Supreme Court to order for total and irrevocable closure of the case file permanently.
Ultimately, truth should prevail. The SIT reports seems too focused on giving a clean image to Modi.
Mr. Raghavan again proves that he is a defence attorney par excellence for Mr. Modi. One does not see a shred of objectivity or balance in his remarks.
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