Exposed: Diary shows how Modi govt slept while Gujarat was burning

Apparently, the instructions came from P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the CM, then chief secretary G. Subba Rao, then principal secretary, Home, Ashok Narayan and then DGP K. Chakravarthy.

Sreekumar says he was given instructions that involved violating the constitutional machinery and subversion of the law. Wary of revealing the contents of his diary, he says he will present the details in front of the riot inquiry commission, if summoned, or in a court. ‘‘It is a private diary I maintained for my record. In my humble way I tried to oppose the instructions from higher authorities to prepare false reports, implicate innocent individuals and gather material for the government’s propaganda.’’

He says there were times when he received such unusual instructions that he asked for them to be given in writing or refused to obey them.

• In September 2002, Sreekumar got instructions from the principal secretary, CMO, to expunge from his reports remarks made by Modi against Muslims at a function at Bechraji during the Gujarat Gaurav Yatra. Sreekumar was at the time preparing a report for the National Commission for Minorities. Asked to remove the remarks, he refused to oblige. He writes, ‘‘…asked for above instructions to be sent to me in writing.’’ The instructions never came in writing and Sreekumar sent a report to the NCM.

• He was asked to ‘‘submit intelligence reports’’ that would support anti-Muslim and anti-Congress propaganda.

• He was also told to tone down reports meant for the Centre to make it appear the situation was normal.

• There were instructions to prepare reports implicating some individuals, including then MoS for Home Gordhan Zadaphia and police officers who refused to toe the official line.

• There were also instructions for false reporting on activities of BJP MLAs and some ministers, and ex-CM Shankersinh Vaghela.

• In April 2002, the CMO sent instructions to tap Vaghela’s phone lines as Modi felt he was responsible for keeping the communal fires burning.

• In June 2002, prinicipal secretary to the CM wanted a mobile number tracked. The number belonged to Haren Pandya and Modi wanted to know if it was he who revealed to the Concerned Citizens‘ Tribunal details of the crucial meeting on the night of February 27, 2002 when Modi reportedly asked the government machinery to go soft for a couple of days. Modi apparently also wanted to know if Pandya revealed who played what role during the riots.

• There were instructions to not reveal names of riot accused in intelligence reports. On June 16, 2002, Sreekumar sent a report to CMO and Home Department detailing how police officers were refusing to file FIRs or omitting crucial information like names of accused from FIRs and clubbing many FIRs together. Eliciting no response, he sent the report again on August 20, 2002 and again on August 28, 2002.

• On August 9, 2002, before a meeting with CEC J.M. Lyngdoh, officers were instructed to say the situation was normal and conducive for elections.

But the timing and manner in which Sreekumar, now Additional DG, Police Reforms, chose to reveal the diary is being questioned. Only two weeks ago, the state government had superseded him by promoting his junior, K.R. Kaushik, to the rank of DGP along with two other additional DGs. ‘‘It comes a little late and the timing reeks of personal vendetta,’’ says a lawyer appearing before the riot inquiry commission.

Asked to react on the development, Pankaj Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to the CM, said, ‘‘the CM’s office would not like to comment on the revelations made by Sreekumar.’’

Sreekumar, however, says he wants justice done.