(File photo)

GANDHINAGAR: Communal riots across Gujarat in the aftermath of the Sabarmati Express train burning incident in February 2002 were not part of a pre-planned conspiracy, the Justice G T Nanavati Commission of Inquiry, has concluded.

The report, which was tabled in the Gujarat legislative assembly on Wednesday, gave a clean chit to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and others, which included government officials and politicians of the ruling BJP.

Part-I of the inquiry commission - which was confined to the Sabarmati Express S-6 coach burning incident on February 27, 2002 – was tabled earlier by the state government. The inquiry commission, in part-I of its report, had said the train burning incident was a pre-planned act of conspiracy.

“In order to ensure an impartial probe into the matter, then CM Narendra Modi had included himself and his government officials in the scope of investigation of the inquiry commission. The report has busted all attempts to defame Narendra Modi globally. All doubts among people about post Godhra communal violence have now been cleared,” minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja said in Gandhinagar .

Jadeja said the report has found no credence in allegations that Modi visited the burnt S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express to destroy evidence or that it was a private visit. “The commission has concluded that the visit was an official one, planned by state government officials,” Jadeja said. He added that the commission has also found that the state government did not give or support any bandh call in the aftermath of the train burning incident.

The commission, in its report, has questioned the credibility of police officers R B Sreekumar, Rahul Sharma and Sanjiv Bhatt. It found no substance in averments made by these three officials before the commission. Jadeja said, “The commission has rubbished allegations made by Sanjiv Bhatt, that officials were directed to give mobs a free hand in the aftermath of the the Godhra incident. The inquiry commission has said that the meeting did take place, but no such orders were issued.”

The inquiry commission, in its report, has recommended the state government to equip the police force with latest technology and ensure that no religious leader of organisation be allowed to flare up communal tensions.

Part II of the report, which investigated incidences of communal violence spread across the state in the aftermath of the Sabarmati Express incident, runs into nine volumes and about 2,500 pages. In all, 44,445 affidavits were filed before the commission, of which 488 affidavits were of government officials.

Findings of the Justice G T Nanavati Commission of Inquiry:

• The commission has given clean chit to PM Narendra Modi, who was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002.

• The commission has observed that there is no involvement of any political leaders or police officers of the state in post-Godhra riots.

• The commission has also given a clean chit to late Haren Pandya, late Ashok Bhatt and former minister Bharat Barot.

• The commission has observed that the post-Godhra riots were not pre-planned conspiracy or orchestrated violence.

• The commission has observed that there is no substance in allegations against state authorities turning a blind eye to the post-Godhra rioting.

• The commission has questioned the credibility of three IPS officers Sanjiv Bhatt, Rahul Sharma and R B Sreekumar.



In Video: Nanavati panel gives clean chit to ex-CM Narendra Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots