Peg on Sreekumar, Centre for CBI probe into riots

However, since the Nanavati Commission set up by Gujarat is already probing into the riots, the Centre needed a defence for ordering a separate inquiry. Sources said normally, a CBI probe is ordered only when there is the consent of the state government. However, in this case, since the Narendra Modi Government would have never given a nod for a CBI probe, the Centre found the Sreekumar issue as the way out.

The demand for a CBI probe into the riots has arisen from several quarters in the past. In fact, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, on May 3, 2002, had even issued notices to the Gujarat Government, the State Home Secretary and the State DGP, on such a petition.

Also, a PIL filed by Mallika Sarabhai and others had alleged that the state machinery was biased against the minority community during the riots and had sought the setting up of a special team to probe the violence. Union Textiles Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela too has demanded a CBI investigation and a White Paper on the issue from the Centre.

But of late, the pressure on the Centre in this regard has come from Laloo Yadav, who had set up the Bannerjee Commission to specifically probe the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra. His argument is that the Centre is not doing enough to bring the Modi government to book, especially after he was allegedly attacked in Vadodara. With the BJP stalling Parliament calling for his resignation, Yadav is now reportedly pressuring the Congress leadership to give a fitting reply to Modi.