03-22-2010, 09:24 PM
[size="6"][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Godhra-case-Vested-interests-spreading-lies-on-summon-date-says-Modi/articleshow/5712818.cms"]Godhra case: Vested interests spreading lies on summon date, says Modi[/url][/size]
GANDHINAGAR: Giving a new twist, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who refused to appear before the SIT, today called as a "lie" that the Supreme-court appointed panel had fixed March 21 for questioning him in connection with the 2002 riots.
Breaking his silence on the summons by the Special Investigating Team(SIT), Modi wrote an open letter apparently drafted in consultation with party colleague and legal eagle Arun Jaitley in which he said he will respond to the SIT fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of a body appointed by the Supreme Court.
Jaitley, who met Modi, himself released the "carefully worded" letter of the chief minister to the media calling reports of March 21 for his appearance as entirely incorrect.
In another development on Modi's role during the communal violence, the Gujarat High Court asked the Nanavati Commission, which is probing the riots, to clarify by April 1 whether it has taken a final decision not to summon the chief minister for questioning.
The 59-year-old BJP leader in the open letter said, "SIT had not fixed March 21, 2010 for my appearance. To say that I was summoned on March 21 is completely false."
SIT Chief R K Raghavan had on March 11 said Modi was summoned to appear before SIT for questioning on March 21. The SIT office was kept open the whole day yesterday but the chief minister did not turn up.
Without delving on the debate over the date, Raghavan today said there was no response from Modi or his office with regard to the summons till now.
SIT will wait for the response from Modi with regard to the summons issued by them, SIT sources said.
Modi said, "It is a matter of grave concern and needs investigation as to why and who started spreading lies that "SIT summons Narendra Modi on March 21, 2010"."
He further said, "The date of 21st March 2010 was invented by some vested interests and as part of their effort to interfere in the due process of law. They wanted to paint me as a person who refused to respond to the SIT".
The Chief Minister was also unsparing in his attack on "vested interests" who he said have lost no opportunity to defame Gujarat since 2002.
Rushing to the defence of Modi, Jaitley said the nation has been misled on the basis of a "lie".
"Gujarat government and CM Modi has said said they have been and will cooperate with the legal process of the country as well as fully cooperate with SIT," he added.
Jaitley said that the entire debate that Modi was supposed to appear before SIT and did not, showing disrespect to Supreme Court lacked any basis.
GANDHINAGAR: Giving a new twist, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who refused to appear before the SIT, today called as a "lie" that the Supreme-court appointed panel had fixed March 21 for questioning him in connection with the 2002 riots.
Breaking his silence on the summons by the Special Investigating Team(SIT), Modi wrote an open letter apparently drafted in consultation with party colleague and legal eagle Arun Jaitley in which he said he will respond to the SIT fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of a body appointed by the Supreme Court.
Jaitley, who met Modi, himself released the "carefully worded" letter of the chief minister to the media calling reports of March 21 for his appearance as entirely incorrect.
In another development on Modi's role during the communal violence, the Gujarat High Court asked the Nanavati Commission, which is probing the riots, to clarify by April 1 whether it has taken a final decision not to summon the chief minister for questioning.
The 59-year-old BJP leader in the open letter said, "SIT had not fixed March 21, 2010 for my appearance. To say that I was summoned on March 21 is completely false."
SIT Chief R K Raghavan had on March 11 said Modi was summoned to appear before SIT for questioning on March 21. The SIT office was kept open the whole day yesterday but the chief minister did not turn up.
Without delving on the debate over the date, Raghavan today said there was no response from Modi or his office with regard to the summons till now.
SIT will wait for the response from Modi with regard to the summons issued by them, SIT sources said.
Modi said, "It is a matter of grave concern and needs investigation as to why and who started spreading lies that "SIT summons Narendra Modi on March 21, 2010"."
He further said, "The date of 21st March 2010 was invented by some vested interests and as part of their effort to interfere in the due process of law. They wanted to paint me as a person who refused to respond to the SIT".
The Chief Minister was also unsparing in his attack on "vested interests" who he said have lost no opportunity to defame Gujarat since 2002.
Rushing to the defence of Modi, Jaitley said the nation has been misled on the basis of a "lie".
"Gujarat government and CM Modi has said said they have been and will cooperate with the legal process of the country as well as fully cooperate with SIT," he added.
Jaitley said that the entire debate that Modi was supposed to appear before SIT and did not, showing disrespect to Supreme Court lacked any basis.