SIT can question Modi: High Court

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may for the first time be grilled about his role in the 2002 riots.

During the riots more than a thousand people were killed as a reaction against the death of Kar Sevaks on the Sabarmati Express. The high court has now cleared the way to investigate the government's role in the riots.

First came the unprecedented loss in the Junagadh municipal polls, a seat the BJP has not lost in two decades.

Then the harder blow: the Gujarat High Court said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) can question the Chief Minister as part its fresh investigation into Gujarat riots.

The SIT that has reopened nine crucial riot cases is also probing the government's role in the 2002 riots.

It had gathered evidence. The next step was to question Modi and 62 accomplices and record their statements.

To create a stumbling block, BJP leader Kalubhai Maliwad asked for a stay arguing Modi's name had not figured in the original riot FIRs.

To this, the high court has said: "Since the SIT investigation is being supervised by the Supreme Court there is no need to stay the probe."

SIT chief RK Raghavan refused to comment on this symbolic win.

But victims like Zakiya Jafri have spoken up. Zakiya is the widow of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was burnt alive by a mob during the riots - the only victim to name on paper Narendra Modi and 62 other ministers and policemen paving the way for the SIT investigation to begin against them.

"I welcome the judgement. I hope the SIT would move with seriousness in probing Narendra Modi and his men since these are serious charges," said Zakiya Jafri, widow of Ehsan Jafri.

Till now Modi has not even been summoned. Now the past is closing in.