Author: Nanavati Ld Guj
Publication: Outlook
Date: May 20, 2003
URL: http://outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=142748
As a controversy raged over his
remarks on the probe into the Gujarat violence, Justice G T Nanavati, heading
the inquiry commission, today said there was very limited evidence against
any individual VHP or Bajrang Dal leader based on the evidence before it
so far.
He told NDTV 24x7 that it would
be wrong to suggest that the post-Godhra riots were one-sided and targeted
against one community but that members of both communities were involved
in the violence.
"Yes, there have been instances
where people have said the Bajrang Dal and VHP workers at the local level
instigated people to riot. But the complaints are primarily of a very general
nature. There is no real evidence that has been brought to name individual
Bajrang Dal or VHP leaders," Justice Nanavati was quoted as saying by the
channel in a press release.
Justice Nanavati is part of a two-judge
commission that is inquiring into the Godhra incident and the violence
that followed. So far, the Commission has recorded evidence in almost all
the districts of the state, except Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
"On the evidence that we have recorded
so far, it would not be fair to say that only Muslims were targeted. Initially
though Hindus may have been the perpetrators of violence because they were
angry, later members of both communities were engaged in the violence,"
he said.
Justice Nanavati also said that
in only one instance had the Commission recorded evidence of the involvement
of an MLA or a Minister. "I think there is only one case in which an MLA
from Bhavnagar was named. But there is no evidence of any minister being
involved. If there are any reports on ministerial or political involvement,
we haven't come across them," the release said quoting the judge.
He said the evidence before the
Commission suggested that the Godhra train burning was a mix of pre-planning
and spontaneity. "I do not think you can say that the incident was planned
for weeks before it happened. Things had been building up for some time,
and its clear that something happened in Godhra that morning which sparked
off the trouble.
Justice Nanavati also said that
in only one instance had the Commission recorded evidence of the involvement
of an MLA or a Minister. "I think there is only one case in which an MLA
from Bhavnagar was named. But there is no evidence of any minister being
involved. If there are any reports on ministerial or political involvement,
we haven't come across them," the release said quoting the judge.
He said the evidence before the
Commission suggested that the Godhra train burning was a mix of pre-planning
and spontaneity. "I do not think you can say that the incident was planned
for weeks before it happened. Things had been building up for some time,
and its clear that something happened in Godhra that morning which sparked
off the trouble.
