Godhra riots: SIT report slams Narendra Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi?s role during the 2002 Godhra riots has come under scathing attack in a report by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Though the SIT report does not directly indict Modi for the riots due to lack of evidence, his role has been severely criticized for trying to downplay the seriousness of the incidents, reports said on Friday.

Modi?s comment that ?every action has an equal and opposition reaction? on the Godhra riots has been particularly criticized in the report.

The report criticizes Modi?s stance on various events and issues during the riots, including his reaction to killing of a large number of Muslims in Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya, his comments post Godhra and his passive stand on the investigations and inciting the emotions of VHP workers.

?In spite of the fact that ghastly and violent attacks had taken place on Muslims… the reaction of the government was not the type that would have been expected by anyone,? reports, quoting the SIT report, said.

Besides slamming him for appointing right wing supporters are public prosecutors in the riots cases, the chief minister is also blamed for destroying evidence that could have helped substantially in investigations.

Besides Modi, his ministerial colleagues Ashok Bhatt and IK Jadeja have also been named in the SIT report for being in touch with BJP and VHP leaders from police control rooms during the riots.

Fifty-eight people, mostly ?kar-sevaks?, were burnt to death in the Sabarmati Express train near the Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002.

The incident sparked communal riots across the state, killing about 1000 people.