Zakia’s protest plea ‘instigating’,could fan trouble,SIT tells court

Daily arguments over Zakia’s petition resumed after nearly a month following the revocation of magistrate Ganatra’s routine transfer at the behest of Supreme Court,which said his transfer could delay the progress in the case.

Zakia is a widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed at his Gulbarg Society residence in Ahmedabad by rioters in 2002.

Zakia has accused Modi and other officials and police officers of complicity in the riots and challenged the SIT’s final report that gave clean chit to the CM and others.

In its earlier arguments,SIT had criticised Zakia’s protest petition as a “fiction” written by four to five persons,including activist Teesta Setvalvad. In his submission today,Jamuar again read out excerpts from a report of “Concerned Citizens Tribunal-Gujarat-2002”,which was prepared by several retired judges and activists,including Supreme Court judge V R Krishna Iyer who had noted that he was in Gujarat only for a day in the aftermath of riots.

“There is no mention of how the proceedings of the tribunal took place and how this tribunal was constituted. Has anybody authenticated it?” Jamuar asked.

Justice (retired) Iyer had said it (riots) was unfortunate,which is an expression,and not a finding,Jamuar argued.

Zakia has added this report’s findings in her petition.

Jamuar also criticised the protest petition saying it carried the finding of Banerjee Commission that claimed a stove inside the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express caused the fire. He said it was contempt of court since the judgment in the Godhra train burning incident had already been pronounced and an appeal was pending in the Gujarat High Court.

“They have no respect for court. It is happening because of Teesta. All she wants is to prosecute Modi and remove him from his post. SIT kab tak chup rahegi. Rajneeti kheli ja rahi hai. (For how long will SIT keep quiet? Politics is being played,” Jamuar added.

Daily hearings in the matter will resume from June 17.