Ahmedabad:
The Supreme Court on Monday is likely to decide whether Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's role will be probed in the 2002 Gulbarg Society case. 69 people, including Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed by a rioting mob which attacked the Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002, soon after the Godhra train burning.
The former Congress MP's wife, Zakiya Jafri, has been spearheading the fight for justice. Shattered but resolute, Zakiya led the quest for justice for hundreds of riot victims. She's not only a witness in the Gulbarg massacre case, but had petitioned the Supreme Court pressing charges against Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his ministers and policemen.
In her petition, Zakia says that there is overwhelming evidence of the direct involvement of the Gujarat government led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the violence post-Godhra. She also alleges the chief minister told officials at a crucial law and order meeting on the February 27 to go slow on rioters, and that he positioned senior ministers and party functionaries at selected police control rooms to monitor riots and ensure police inaction. She also says phone calls were made from the chief minister's office to police officials and riot accused.
"I have faith I will get justice...I have not lost hope," said Zakia, who despite the prolonged legal battle did not give up her fight.
A Supreme Court bench of Justice DK Jain, Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Aftab Alam had reserved its order in the Gulbarg Society case on July 28. Reserving the order, the court said that it would pass necessary directions for the future course of investigation.
On April 27, 2009, the Supreme Court asked the Special Investigation Team headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation director RK Raghvan to "look into" the complaint of Zakia Jafri alleging involvement of 63 people, including the chief minister, for their inaction during the Gulbarg Society carnage.
(
With agency inputs)