BJP asks SC to reopen all old cases

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today hailed the Supreme Court’s order on retrial of cases related to the 2002 Gujarat riots in fast-track courts.

However, the party also hoped that the apex court would reopen all the old cases of mass killings, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.

“We welcome setting up of fast-track courts in this case,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, adding the early disposal of the Gujarat riots cases would also help the BJP clear its name.

“The Gujarat riots had been used by our rivals to defame us. So, early disposal of cases through fast-track courts would deliver justice to all and end this controversy forever,” he said.

However, Javadekar asked the Supreme Court to play a “similar proactive role” in rendering justice to the victims of the 1984 riots,

Bhagalpur killings in Bihar, as well as the temple-mosque dispute in Ayodhya.

He said while the BJP had faith in the apex court it would expect the court to take cognizance of all other cases, which were of public importance.

Meanwhile, in Gandhinagar, Jaynarayan Vyas, official spokesperson of the Gujarat government, said that the Supreme Court’s ruling vindicated the government’s stand that there was no reason for the cases to be moved out of Gujarat.

Arjun Modhvadia, spokesperson of the state Congress, declined to comment on the judgment. “People of Gujarat are demanding a quicker investigation and judicial procedures against the accused in the riots,” he said.