The Hindu : Modi was the root cause of Gujarat riots, deposes doctor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2003

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Modi was the root cause of Gujarat riots, deposes doctor

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD JULY 29. Mohammad Hussain Quadri, a doctor from the Mirzapur locality under the Karanj police station, today accused the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, of being the "root cause" for the communal carnage in the State last year.

Appearing before the G.T. Nanavati and K.G. Shah commission probing the Godhra train carnage and the riots that followed, he said: "What the British Government could not do all these years, Mr. Modi did in a few days. He successfully divided the two communities."

Dr. Quadri alleged that the local BJP MLAs "instigated" the mobs to attack Muslims. He refused to name anyone, saying the police were ``well aware'' as to who did this. He claimed that the MLAs participated in the carnage because of the support they received from the party and Mr. Modi. He, however, could not produce any evidence to substantiate his charges against Mr. Modi or the BJP.

He was at the same time appreciative of the steps taken by the police and said but for their timely intervention, Mirzapur locality could have become another Gulmarg Society or Naroda-Patiya where over 150 Muslims were burnt alive.

When he raised the issue of MLAs seeking police protection out of "fear of their own voters", the Commission cut him short saying that it was there to collect evidence concerning the communal riots and the MLAs' security and such other issues did not fall within its purview. Dr. Quadri later told mediapersons that he had "much more to say" about the riots but was not allowed to.

Another resident of the same area, Mohammad Hussain, a businessman, was critical of the police role but was evasive when asked to produce concrete evidence. He too was reminded by the Commission that it was not a trial court but only collecting evidence to probe the riot cases.

The advocate for the central relief committee, H.S. Qureshi, however, disapproved of the Commission's role and the way it was conducting the inquiry. Talking to mediapersons outside, he termed as "farce" the way the witnesses and victims were being called before the commission and said the system of holding public hearing police station-wise provided an opportunity to the police to "manipulate and tutor" the witnesses to speak in their favour.

A group speaking on behalf of 76 persons of the locality was both critical and appreciative of the police. Accusing the local police of high-handed behaviour, they said 76 persons were "picked up" during a combing operation and charged with involvement in the riots. However, they were "saved" by a senior police officer, Shivanand Jha, who, after studying their case, found them innocent and ordered their release. Some complaints of police harassment and manhandling of women, particularly pregnant women, were also made before the commission.

Later in a brief chat with media persons, Mr. Justice Nanavati said he was "misunderstood and misquoted" by the media during a recent interview in Delhi.

Refusing to comment on the progress of the hearing, he said the Commission presently was only engaged in collecting evidence and that there was no question of passing any judgment at this stage.

He said collection of evidence was expected to be completed by December and the report could be ready by March next year and submitted to the Government a couple of months after the necessary formalities were completed.

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Modi was the root cause of Gujarat riots, deposes doctor