Activists trash Nanavati report giving clean chit to Modi

Five years after it was submitted to the then Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel, Justice G. T. Nanavati and Akshay Mehta Commission report, which was tabled in the state assembly on Wednesday, has received flak from human rights activists and former police officers. 

The commission, which probed Godhra carnage and post-Godhra riots of 2002, in its report has given clean chit to the then Narendra Modi government, but at the same time noted that the police were ineffective in controlling the riots in some areas.

The report was submitted in two parts. The part in which the commission probed Godhra carnage was submitted several years ago. The report had noted that Godhra carnage was a pre-planned conspiracy.

Nirjhari Sinha, who was instrumental in analysing call data records during the post-Godhra riots, told THE WEEK that they knew what the result would be and for them the value of the report is “zero and something that is thrown in the dust bin”. Observing that the commission was appointed by the Modi government and, hence, they (commission members) were his men, Sinha said one should ask the commission as to how the riots happened.

May that be Bhagalpur riots or post-Godhra riots, it can't happen without the connivance of the government in power, whichever it may be. If they want to, they can convert entire Kashmir into a jail for the people and here (in Gujarat) they could not put rioters behind the bars, she observed, mentioning that it appears to be a joke. 

The call data records helped in tracking down the locations of people concerned during the riots. 

Ironically, while the commission gave a clean chit to Modi, then ministers late Haren Pandya and Ashok Bhatt and Bharat Barot, the fact remains that one former minister Dr Maya Kodnani was awarded a lifer in Naroda Patiya case. 

Gagan Sethi, whose fight led Bilkis Bano, a rape survivor, getting justice, observed that they did not expect anything more. He said that mountains of evidences were given. According to Sethi, if the killing of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was not a planned/targeted attack, then he must learn from Nanavati as to what a planned attack is. 

Sethi felt that if the police were bad why the police reforms were not being carried out. 

Former IPS officer, R.B. Shreekumar, who submitted nine affidavits in the commission, pointed out that in his book on Gujarat there was a separate chapter on complacency of Nanavati Commission, terming it as a “black mark” on Indian judiciary. Shreekumar asked why proceedings were not initiated against him if at all they found anything false in any of his affidavits.

Said Cedric Prakash, Jesuit Human Rights activist, who worked extensively for riot victims, “The Commission report is blatantly one sided. They have disregarded keen evidences and the role of important politicians.” He pointed out that Gujarat police are responsible for law and order and in controlling mobs. What about the “infamous midnight” meeting and politicians who manned the police control rooms, he asked.

He was referring to a meeting that was chaired by Modi on the night of carnage. Sacked IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who is now behind the bars in connection with two cases, had claimed that he was present in the meeting. This has been denied by several police officers. 

Prakash also questioned as to why the Commission did not take into account submissions by several independent commissions that probed the Godhra carnage and post-Godhra riots. He asked if the police were unable to act decisively, what prevented the government from asking the military to come in and take over. 

The report also mentioned that the role played by IPS officers Shreekumar, Sanjiv Bhatt and Rahul Sharma were “negative”. 

Bhatt's wife, Shweta, who has been fighting a battle for justice for him, asked what the term “negative” meant. They should have given more details, she remarked, adding that she wouldn't be able to comment much in the absence of her husband. 

While talking to media persons, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said it was a ploy to malign the image of the government. 

Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said that the Congress and some NGOs, who tried to malign the image of Modi, stand exposed.