0

New Delhi/ Ahmedabad: The Special Investigation Team, appointed by the Supreme Court to probe the 2002 Gujarat riots, has summoned Chief Minister Narendra Modi to appear before it for questioning on March 21.

Modi has been summoned in connection with a petition filed by Zakia Jaffrey, widow of Ehsan Jaffrey, the Congress MP, who was murdered in a riot at Ahmedabad’s Gulburg Society on February 28, 2002. As many as 69 other people died in the riot at Gulburg Society.

The chief of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) told CNN-IBN that summons related to the Gulburg Society riot case alone.

“I can only comment that this summon is in compliance to the petition file by Zakia Jaffery,” said R K Raghavan, a former chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation. “We are calling him mainly on that and March 21 is the date that we have asked him to appear before the court.”

The SIT is probing complaints against Modi and it is to submit its report to the Supreme Court by April 30.

Zakia has filed a 100-page complaint against Modi and 62 others, including his cabinet colleagues, accusing them of conspiracy in the riot at Gulbarg Society.

Zakia’s complaint has allegations against Gordhan Zadaphia, Ashok Bhatt, P C Pande, who were the home minister, health minister and Ahmedabad police chief during the riot.

"I hope that justice will be given to us. It has been a long journey. I am very happy that Modi has been summoned," Zakia told CNN-IBN after learning about the summons served to the Chief Minister. “I want to be present Modi when he comes to court,” she said.

More on: Narendra Modi, Gujarat riots, 2002 Gujarat riots