The ghastly crimes against humanity committed by communal devils and their accomplices in Gujarat in 2002 are still crying for justice. Mr. Narendra Modi and his friends thought that the long hands of justice would not reach them as they are riding on the wave of popular support. But the recent order of the Supreme Court to Special Investigation Team (SIT) to reopen probe into the role of Modi, his 15 ministers and MLAs and 47 others has rekindled the hope of bringing the culprits to book. Besides, the BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders, including the notorious trouble shooters Praveen Togadia, Jaideep Patel and Babu Bajrangi would also be under scanner. The role of several police officers who were accused of dereliction of duty will also be investigated. The SIT is already entrusted with investigating 10 most heinous massacres in Gujarat. All justice loving persons, who value rules of law, will welcome the Supreme Court order though they rightly feel that law should not have taken seven long years to reach this crucial point.
It should not be forgotten that Zakia Jafri, the widow of former Lok Sabha member Ehsan Jafri, had been fighting to get justice for her brutally murdered husband and scores of victims of Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad. She accused Mr. Modi of aiding and abetting killings during the riots. In her PIL she had alleged that Modi, who was the constitutionally elected head of state and was responsible for safeguarding the fundamental rights to life, honour and property, did not do his duty. On the contrary, he was the architect of a conspiracy to subvert constitutional governance and rule of law. She alleged that Modi, his ministers and officials were directly and indirectly responsible for mass carnage and thereafter indulged in protecting the criminals who played direct role in killings and murders.
Zakia Jafri has said that she was a witness to the ghastly killings, hackings and burning alive of men, women and children. She along with scores of riot victims saw the massacre from the terrace of her house where they had taken refuge. She graphically describes how her husband was captured, bound, dragged and then how one by one his body parts were cut into pieces and how he was finally burnt to ashes. She also saw how pregnant women were cut to pieces and burnt.
This must be mentioned that Zakia Jafri’s attempts to file an FIR were foiled by the very guardians of law and order. Thereafter she moved the Gujarat High Court which could not give required relief to her. Finally her appeal to Supreme Court was granted and SIT was instructed to undertake the investigation. Let us hope that now the real culprits, however highly placed, will be unveiled and punished.
To pave the way for a fair investigation, Modi must resign. And if he is not ready to feel his moral responsibility, he should be removed through constitutional means. If he is at the helm of affairs, he will try to save his skins and give protection to culprits and obstruct investigation and meeting the demands of justice may be hindered.