The Gujarat government on Friday rejected the Congress demand for the resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the wake of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) summoning him for questioning in connection with the Gulberg Society massacre of 2002.
The State Cabinet spokesman and Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said the Congress was “day dreaming” that Mr. Modi would resign on this ground. “The party may wish for anything but there is no reason for Mr. Modi to quit,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the BJP government in the State and Mr. Modi had always respected and co-operated with the judiciary and the law and order machinery and would “continue to do so,” hinting that the Chief Minister would not try to duck the SIT summons.
The sources in the Chief Minister's office, however, indicated that he might try to seek a change of date in responding to the summons, fixed by the SIT for March 21, because of some other prior engagements.
The demand for his resignation was made by the former Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Arjun Modhvadia, both inside and outside the House.
Talking to journalists , Mr. Modhvadia said since the summons were based on the Supreme Court's directives and on the strength of the evidence collected by the SIT, Mr. Modi should tender his resignation on moral grounds. He also hoped that the SIT would not stop the inquiry merely by questioning Mr. Modi but would take the investigation to its logical end.
Published - March 12, 2010 05:08 pm IST
