Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has petitioned President Pratibha Patil to appoint a new Commission of Inquiry to probe the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in 2002 riots.
“The Government of India should expeditiously appoint a two-member commission, under Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1952, headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India, to inquire into role of Chief Minister,” Mr. Bhatt said in his petition to the President.
Mr. Bhatt further said that the role of Chief Minister and any other ministers in his council of ministers, police officers, other individuals and organisations with respect to the adequacy of administrative measures taken to prevent and deal with disturbances in Godhra and subsequent disturbances (communal riots) in the State should be examined by the new panel.
“The new commission should also inquire the adequacy of the steps and measures taken by the administration, from lst June 2002 till date; to facilitate relief, rehabilitation and the delivery of justice to the victims of the Godhra incident of 27th February 2002 and the subsequent communal riots of 2002 in the State of Gujarat,” Mr. Bhatt has said.
Mr. Bhatt also contended in his letter that there was a lacuna in terms of reference of Nanavati Commission, which is presently probing the 2002 riots.
The point of adequacy of administrative measures taken to prevent and deal with disturbances in Godhra and subsequent disturbances in the State—-which was mentioned in the original terms of reference of Nanavati Commission—was deleted when the terms of reference were revised in 2004, he said.
