M A I N   N E W S

Nanavati panel asked to clarify stand on Modi

Ahmedabad, March 22
The Gujarat High Court today asked the Nanavati Commission, which is probing the 2002 riots, to clarify by April 1 whether it has taken a final decision not to summon Chief Minister Narendra Modi for questioning.

The court sought this information from the government pleader, a day after Modi failed to appear before the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) that had summoned the senior BJP leader for questioning on March 21 in connection with the riots in Gulburg society here.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi posed the query while hearing an appeal by the Jan Sangarsh Manch (JSM), an NGO representing the 2002 riot victims.

The court order came even as Modi explored legal options as regards responding to the SIT summons.

‘I wasn’t summoned on March 21’

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that he would respond to the SIT probing the 2002 Gujarat riots “fully respecting” the law and refuted the reports that he skipped appearance before the panel on Sunday.

“The SIT had not fixed March 21 for my appearance. To say that I was summoned on March 21 is completely false. I shall respond to the SIT fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of a body appointed by the SC,” he said in an open letter. The letter came following reports that he had boycotted the SIT summons.

He said, “Truth cannot be suppressed. It is now my duty to place before you the facts that bring out the importance of understanding what the truth really is.” — PTI