Modi action-reaction statement not sufficient to make case:SIT

The SIT has given clean chit to Modi, in a specific allegation made by Zakia Jaffery, the widow of former MP Ehsaan Jaffrey, that Modi made objectionable statements in an interview to a private television channel and a newspaper invoking Newton's law of 'action and reaction'.

The SIT has said that as per the correspondent of the private TV channel, Modi referred to Jaffery's firing as "action" and massacre that followed as "reaction".

"During the interview, when questioned about Gulburg society massacre in which former MP Ehsaan Jaffery was killed along with 69 others, the CM referred to reports that Jaffery had first fired at the violent mob, which provoked mob and thereafter, it stormed the housing society and set it on fire," the SIT report said.

The SIT report further says that the exact quote was, "Kriya pratikriya ke chain chal rahi hai. Hum chaete hai ke na kriya ho, aur na pratikriya (A chain of action and reaction is going on. We neither want action nor reaction)."

When the correspondent asked Modi about widespread violence in Gujarat post-Godhra, the latter replied, "Godhra main jo purso hua, jaha par 40 mahilao aur bacho ko zinda jala diya, is main desh main aur videsh main sadma pauchna swabhavik tha. Godhra ke is ilake ke logo ki criminal tendencies rahe hai, in logo ne pelhe mahila teacher ka khoon kiya and ab ye jaghanya apradh kiya hai jiski pratikriya ho rahi hai."

(What happened in Godhra day before yesterday, where 40 women and children were burnt alive, this country and even foreign countries are shocked. People of that area of Godhra have criminal tendencies, they had earlier killed a lady teacher and now have committed this heinous crime, reaction to which are being felt).

The interview was given by Modi on March 1, 2002, while the Godhra train burning incident took place on February 27, 2002.

The so called utterances by Chief Minister Narendra Modi are not sufficient to make out a case against him, the SIT says in its report giving a clean chit to Modi for his statements. (More)