Southern States - Tamil Nadu

SC judge must probe Gujarat violence: Gowda

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI April 6. The former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, today reiterated his demand for a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the ``Godhra carnage'' and the subsequent violence in Gujarat.

The violent aftermath of the Godhra train massacre could only be termed as ``state-sponsored terrorism'', because nothing was done to stop the killing and looting, Mr. Gowda told mediapersons here on Saturday.

``I am personally not for dismissing the Narendra Modi Government. But the Prime Minister asked Mr. Modi to win back the people's confidence. It only means Mr. Modi has lost the confidence of the people. We heard that even a High Court Judge had to flee from rioting mobs. In such a situation, what can a probe by a retired High Court Judge achieve, especially when officials have stated that they were not given a free hand to deal with the violence?'' he asked.

Hence, the probe should be conducted only by a sitting Supreme Court judge, with the assistance of an impartial agency like the CBI, he said. On allegations being traded about those behind the violence, he said "We only want the truth to come out... Let them be from the ruling party or any other party.''

He felt that the Prime Minister's statement that the Gujarat incidents were a national shame ``came out of real anguish and sorrow''. But unfortunately, Mr. Vajpayee might not be able to take action against anyone as he was under pressure from the RSS-VHP, which ``do not realise the damage they have caused to the country'', he said.

Mr. Gowda claimed that the ``time is ripe now for the formation of a Third Front. I was elected from the Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency as the entire Janata Parivar was behind me. It shows which way the wind is blowing.''

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