Modi Appears Before SIT

On 27th March, 2010, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi was questioned by the Special Investigation Team panel appointed by the Supreme Court. The panel was constituted to probe Modi’s role in the Gujarat riots that took place in 2002.

Who Alleged Modi's Involvement in Gujarat Riots?

The widow of former Congress MP, Ehsan Jaffri (he was among those who were killed by a violent communal mob at Ahmedabad's Gulberg Society) had petitioned the Supreme Court  seeking a fair investigation against those who were connected with this massacre including Modi.

In Zakia’s petition before the Supreme Court, she had alleged Modi had given instructions to the then Director General of Police as well as other top brass in the police force to let Hindus give vent to their fury towards Muslims.

Modi on Indian Law

Following a five hour questioning by the panel, Modi stated to the press, “India's law is supreme." He stated that he was bound by the Indian Constitution.

In the bad old days, Indian politicians who occupied positions of power could not be ‘seen or touched’ even if there were hints in newspapers about such inquiries. This is the first time that the Chief Minister of an Indian state has been called for questioning in a serious criminal complaint involving mass murder. The allegation against Modi is that he and his administration had aided and abetted the riots in an area in Ahmedabad.

Mixed Public Reaction on Modi

Mixed reactions flooded in as soon as the news of Modi’s appearance before the SIT flashed across TV screens. There were jubilant people who stated that it is a day of victory for justice. There were people who stated that the law should take the right course and that the media should not interfere.

Many people also raised their voice against the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, who had made weak attempts to justify the Sikh riots in 1984, which was reported to have taken place with the full knowledge of senior party leaders in the Congress. Public memory is not short as people have begun asking questions about previous state sponsored atrocities that have triggered other bloody massacres in the country.