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Journalism of Courage
In a startling revelation, former Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ashok Narayan said today that the decision to bring the bodies of the Godhra train attack victims to Ahmedabad on February 27 was taken by none other than Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Deposing before the Nanavati-Shah Commission—the first IAS officer to do so—Narayan said that when he went into the late-night meeting with the Chief Minister on February 27, he had got a full report on the Sabarmati Express attack. He said he also knew that some of the victims were VHP Ram Sevaks, the VHP had called a protest bandh the next day and that there could be trouble.
Asked why did he then allow the bodies to be brought to Ahmedabad, Narayan said, ‘‘It was not my decision; it was made at the highest level.’’
Asked what he meant by the ‘‘the highest level,’’ Narayan replied, ‘‘The decision was taken by the Chief Minister.’’
Narayan, who was later appointed Vigilance Commissioner and continues to hold this position even after retirement, was replying during cross-examination by Mukul Sinha, advocate for the Jan Sangharsh Manch. The 58 charred bodies were brought by train to Ahmedabad’s Maninagar railway station late on February 27 night and taken to the Sola Civil Hospital. Relatives of victims were called from different parts of the state and the bodies were taken away in convoys. The bodies belonging to Ahmedabad were also taken in procession for a cremation in the morning. The unclaimed bodies were cremated by the administration and 13 of them still remain unidentified.
Hours later, violence gripped the city. Contrary to the statement made by former Ahmedabad Police chief P C Pande before the commission, Narayan said that at the meeting with the CM, they did discuss the possible repercussions of the Godhra incident.
Narayan said he did not remember if Pande was present at the meeting, but the then DGP K Chakravarty was present.
