Cong attacks Modi govt for destroying '02 riots records

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat for destroying intelligence records related to the 2002 riots. The Gujarat government had on Wednesday admitted to the Nanavati Commission that it had destroyed all State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) records pertaining to the 2002 riots. Alleging an attempt to “hide” the truth regarding the alleged involvement of Chief Minister Modi and his colleagues, the Congress demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the matter.

“This is nothing short of criminal conspiracy to see that the truth does not emerge. It clearly shows an attempt on the part of the state government to cover up the entire matter,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said in the Capital. The Gujarat government counsel SB Vakil had on Wednesday told the Nanavati Commission that all SIB records related to the riots were destroyed in 2007. “As per general government rules, the telephone call records, vehicle logbook and the officers’ movement diary are destroyed after a certain period,” the state government’s counsel had told the Commission.

The counsel had made this revelation while talking to media-persons after the questioning of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt was over for the day before the commission. The records destroyed reportedly include phone calls, vehicle logbooks with details of movement of senior officials. Eleven persons were sentenced to death and 20 others awarded life sentence in connection with the burning of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express train outside Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002. Sixty-three persons were acquitted in the case. All the convicts have now filed an appeal against the trial court verdict in the Gujarat High Court.