‘Truth has come out shining like gold’: Amit Shah on SC upholding SIT clean chit to Modi

NEW DELHI: After the

Supreme Court

rejected the appeal questioning the SIT’s clean chit to then-Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and many other individuals in the case related to the 2002 riots, home minister Amit

Shah

lauded the verdict. He said that the truth had come out, “shining like gold.”

He also said Narendra

Modi

had endured pain for the last 19 years without speaking a word and followed “Lord Shiva who swallowed poison and held it in his throat.”

During an interview with ANI, Shah also stated that Modi provided the best example of how to follow the Constitution for all political figures.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to then CM arendra Modi and several others in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar dismissed an appeal against the clean chit to Modi in the Gujarat riots case filed by Zakia Jafri, the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri killed in the violence who alleged a “larger conspiracy” in the riots. The bench said that it finds the appeal as “devoid of merit.”

Those who leveled “politically motivated” allegations should apologise

Amit Shah said that those who leveled “politically motivated” allegations against the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi should apologise for it.

In the interview, Shah said Modi presented an ideal example for all political persons of how to respect the Constitution.

“PM Modi has presented an ideal example to all political persons of how the constitution should be respected in a democracy. Modiji was also interrogated, but nobody protested, workers from across the country did not gather in solidarity with Modiji. We cooperated with the law. I was also arrested. We did not protest. When the truth comes out after such a long battle with victory, then it shines brighter than gold. I am feeling good that today those people who leveled allegations against Modiji… if they had an inner conscience then they should apologise to Modiji and BJP,” Shah said.

“What was the allegation? It was said that the allegations were motivated and the state government and the chief minister were also involved. This was the allegation. Nobody is denying that riots did not take place. Riots took place in many parts of the country,” he added.

Amit Shah takes jibe at Congress ‘satyagraha’

Taking a jibe at Congress’ ‘satyagraha’ over ED questioning Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, Amit Shah said that Narendra Modi as Gujarat CM appeared before the SIT in relation to probe over post-Godhra violence but the BJP did not resort to “drama or dharna” during the questioning.

Amit Shah also referred to his facing arrest in Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in which he was subsequently acquitted, and said no “dharna” was carried out.

“In a democracy, PM Modi presented an ideal example of how the Constitution should be respected by all political persons. Modiji was also questioned, but nobody protested, and (BJP) workers from across the country did not gather in solidarity with Modiji. We cooperated with the law. I was also arrested. There was no protest or demonstration,” he said.

“This is not the first clean chit to PM Modi. Nanavati Commission has also given a clean chit. Still the SIT was formed. And Modiji did not appear before the SIT doing drama… come in support from every village if not then call MLAs, MPs and ex-MPs, hold dharna,” Shah added in a jibe towards the Congress party’s decision to hold demonstrations in national capital during Rahul Gandhi’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case.

“We believe that we should cooperate in the judicial process. There was a Supreme Court order, and an SIT was there. If the SIT wants to ask questions from the Chief Minister, he himself said that he is ready to cooperate. Why stage a protest? No person is beyond the law,” he said.

Shah said that protest cannot be justified against the judicial process.

“No protest is justified against any judicial process because our view is considered right when the judiciary says so. I was put behind bars. I used to say that I am innocent. But when the court said that a fake case was filed against me and there was a politically motivated conspiracy by the CBI to frame me, then my words proved right,” he said.

‘Trikut’ of NGOs, BJP’s rivals and ideology-driven politically motivated journalists ran false allegations after 2002 Gujarat riots

Shah said despite false allegations, the BJP had the trust of the people of Gujarat who kept voting the party to power.

The apex court on Friday, while rejecting an appeal by Zakia Jafri, wife of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the violence, said that the appeal was “devoid of merits.”

“I have read the judgement very carefully. The judgement clearly mentions the name of Teesta Setalvad. The NGO that was being run by her – I don’t remember the name of the NGO- had given baseless information about the riots to the police,” stated Shah.

The Union Minister said that the public was not hoodwinked by the nexus of the “trikut”.

“No it (the nexus) did not run for 20 years. The mandate of the people is the biggest thing, the public sees everything. The 130 crore people in the country have 260 crore eyes and 260 crore ears. They see and hear everything, we have never lost an election (In Gujarat). The public never accepted these allegations,” he said.

“BJP’s political rivals, Kuch ideology ke liye rajneeti mein aye patrakar (journalists who came to politics to pursue their ideology) and some NGOs together (aaropon ko pracharit kiya) publicised the allegations. They had a strong ecosystem so everyone started believing the lies as truth,” he added.

Gujarat government did not delay calling the Army to quell post-Godhra riots

There was no delay on part of the Gujarat government in requisitioning the Army to deal with post-Godhra 2002 Gujarat riots, Amit Shah said and noted that former Punjab DGP KPS Gill had termed the state government’s action as “prompt and neutral”.

He also attacked Congress over anti-Sikh riots in 1984, saying that so many Sikhs were killed “but nothing was done for three days”.

“The Gujarat government did not delay in anything. When the Gujarat Bandh was declared, we called the Army. The Army needed some time to reach. There was not even a day’s delay by the Gujarat government and this was also appreciated by the court,” Shah told ANI in an interview.

Amit Shah lashes out at Teesta Setalvad

Teesta Setalvad-run NGO gave baseless information about the Gujarat riots, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal against the exoneration of then state Chief Minister Narendra Modi in a 2002 riots case.

“I have read the judgement very carefully. The judgement clearly mentions the name of Teesta Setalvad. The NGO that was run being run by her – I don’t remember the name of the NGO- had given baseless information about the riots to the police,” Amit Shah, in an exclusive interview, told ANI.

(With inputs from ANI)