The Hindu : National : Ex-Minister denies criticising Modi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Ex-Minister denies criticising Modi

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: The dissident leader and former Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Gordhan Jhadafiya, has refuted the reports aired by a television news channel about his criticism of the actions of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, during the 2002 communal riots.

“Misrepresented”

Even as the news channel was showing him speaking on record, Mr. Jhadafiya, who during the communal riots was the Minister of State for Home with Mr. Modi himself holding the Home portfolio, maintained that what was aired was an edited report quoting him out of context and a distorted version. “I have been misrepresented and misquoted,” he insisted.

The channel quoted him as having said that the decisions then were taken by Mr. Modi and he as a “true RSS swayamsevak” was simply “carrying out the instructions without any questions.”

He was also quoted to have criticised the “mishandling” of the riot cases, which led to the Supreme Court issuing orders for re-opening over 2000 cases or fresh investigation.

It also claimed that Mr. Jhadafiya criticised Mr. Modi as the “Hindutva” leader when he failed to visit even a single home of the victims of the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National