The Hindu : National : Banerjee report on Godhra an eyewash, says Sangh Parivar

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Saturday, Mar 04, 2006

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Banerjee report on Godhra an eyewash, says Sangh Parivar

Special Correspondent

Final report has been submitted keeping elections in mind: BJP

AHMEDABAD: The Sangh Parivar in Gujarat has described the U.C. Banerjee Commission's final report on the Godhra train carnage as "mere eye-wash and an attempt to please the political bosses," while human rights activists claimed it to be the "final outcome of the whole truth."

The Narendra Modi Government, which has appointed the G.T. Nanavati and K.G. Shah judicial inquiry commission to probe the incident, refused to make any comment on the Bannerjee Commission report.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Purshottam Rupala, dismissed the report as "meaningless" and said it was meant to provide "political mileage" to the non-BJP parties in the coming elections in five States.

Pointing out that the commission submitted its interim report on similar lines on the eve of the Bihar Assembly elections, Mr. Rupala said the final report had been submitted keeping the State elections in mind. He asked why, if the fire was purely accidental as the commission concluded, even the Supreme Court denied bail to the accused. The report was only to save the "killers" of the Ram sevaks. The BJP member of the State Assembly from Godhra, Haresh Bhatt, described it as a "most foolish report and a mockery of justice."

Deepak Shukla, the VHP advocate before the Nanavati-Shah Commission, pointed out the "contradiction" between the two bodies of the Railway Ministry. He said the railway tribunal paid compensation to the family members of 50 "victims of a violent attack" on the Sabarmati Express while the commission appointed by the railway board claimed it was an "accidental fire." The report was "nothing but a political ploy," he said.

The State Congress hoped that the final report of the Banerjee commission would put an end to the "propaganda" by the BJP and its allies. The Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Arjun Modhvadia, said the Commission had proved that if there was any "conspiracy" it was by the Modi Government.

Saeed Umarji, son of Moulana Umarji, who the police had claimed to be the "main brain behind the conspiracy," said it was the first time that some government agency had made a "fair and honest attempt" to bring out the truth.

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