2002 Gujarat riots: SIT report a blatant lie, reiterates Lt General Shah


New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS): Lt General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd) reiterated on Saturday that the Army was delayed transport for over a day despite a request made to the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the 2002 Gujarat riots. He was speaking at the launch of 'The Sarkari Mussalman', unveiled by former VIce President Hamid Ansari.

Shah said he has written the 'Gospel truth', adding that the sequence of events has been recorded in the "war diaries" of the Army.

"When the time comes, these diaries will be provided. What I have reported is the Gospel truth," he said.

The memoir is published by Konark Publishers and was unveiled at the India International Centre (IIC) by former Vice President Hamid Ansari.

The book has courted much controversy over its portions relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Shah, who led the Army in quelling the riots, has said in his memoir that after about 3,000 troops landed at the Ahmedabad airfield by 7 am on March 1, they had to wait for over a day to receive transport and other logistical support from the state government in order to fan out to the cities and towns which were engulfed in violence.

This delay, according to him, happened despite a request by the Lt. General to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi at 2 a.m. on March 1 in Ahmedabad, in the presence of Union Defence Minister George Fernandes.

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigative Team (SIT) report, that had cleared Modi's name, had concluded that there was no delay "in requisition and deployment of the Army", based on testimony of Ashok Narayan, Additional Chief Secretary (Home).

"I was not aware of the SIT report until a few days ago when this was pointed out to me. Let me say again, it is a blatant lie. I have told the truth. I don't think there's a better qualified person than me to talk about it," he said.

General S. Padmanabhan, the then Chief of Army Staff, speaking to IANS earlier, had backed the assertions of Shah. Shah says he "could not be surer" about the events leading to the deployment of Army in Gujarat as he had mentioned every detail in the After Action Report on Operation Aman.

The SIT never called the Lt General for questioning. It looks apparent from its report that the SIT did not look at Shah's After Action Report submitted to Gen Padmanabhan, which was subsequently forwarded to the central government.

According to Shah, the Army put an end to the mayhem during the 2002 Gujarat riots within 48 hours (March 4) by "resolute, firm and fair action", but he holds the "bias" and "politicisation" of the police responsible for the uncontrolled violence.

Although Shah does not make any political statements and calls the delay in the deployment of the Army "an administrative failure", Ansari, during his brief address at the book launch, asked "where does the responsibility lie if the civil administration failed to respond?"

Ansari praised the book and pointed out portions that appealed to him personally. The evening also witnessed a brief reading about the life of wives of men in service.

The SIT was headed by former CBI Director R.K. Raghavan (present Ambassador to Cyprus). When contacted by IANS on the phone, Raghavan said he is "not prepared to talk".

Questions sent to him and his attache at the Indian High Commission in Nicosia seeking his views on whether the Army or it's After Action Report was considered before reaching to the conclusion that there was "no delay in requisition and deployment of the Army" have not been answered.

A panel comprising former Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia Talmiz Ahmad; actor Naseeruddin Shah; Jamia Hansard Vice Chancellor, Syed Ehtesham Hasnain; senior journalist Seema Mustafa, Satish Jacob and Vinod Dua later participated in a panel discussion on the book.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Rational thinker, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    Unlike rest of the world, in India even the autonomous entities like the courts, IT dept., CBI and election commission are all under the control of the ruling party.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Avinash, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    So once again Cong is back with '2002' I think the case was squashed in the SC. . The Cong tried this card in 2014 and ended up with 44, losing all the states subsequently. BTW Any court cased filed for rafale? or is it just shouting from the roof top?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • JAGDISH, mumbai

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    THIS IS THE EFFECT OF DRINKING MUTRA.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    Gujarat riot is already managed by the BJP top leaders who are involved in this grave scam

    DisAgree [3] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Indian, Coastal Mangaluru

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    The man who gave the atomic bomb to Russia once said, " I thought the most powerful weapon in the world is the bomb but I was wrong, the most powerful weapon in the world is not bomb but the truth". Another said " truth is the most valuable thing in the world and it is so important, that often it is surrounded by a bodyguard of lies" Ultimately, only the human conscience knows what is truth and what is lie!

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohan, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    BJP is a world's biggest lie factory...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • D.Shetty, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    we are happy with that lie ...we will vote modji again ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Raj, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    The Indian state refuses to bring Hindu perpetrators of criminal acts to justice. India has a long way to go before all Indians are subject to the same standards of law and justice.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    Elections are approaching

    DisAgree [8] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Moshu, Mangaluru

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    It was proved over and again that the strategy for inciting violence was preplanned right from the beginning Godra train torching.
    Its time now to book the responsibles who delayed of the deployment of army.
    I dont think minorities in this country will get fair justice. Babri Masjid demolisher are still on bail and honored. Victims of Gujarat riots, Mecca masjid blasts, ajmer blasts, malegaon blasts, samjhota express blasts still waiting for justice.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • vgb, mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    bangla war also lies???

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDA GUNDOO, MANGALURU

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    modi build his empire on basis of lies !

    DisAgree [4] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cyril, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 14 2018

    Truth is a truth will overcome one day.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Suhel Deen, Mangalore

    Sat, Oct 13 2018

    Truth will prevail

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Raj, Mangalore

    Sat, Oct 13 2018

    The failure of the Indian press to uncover the truth about the Gujarat riots is a black mark on Indian journalism. No Indian journalist uncovered the omissions of the SIT report.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Sat, Oct 13 2018

    Godhra Ghost is making a come back in a spectacular way. Feku and Daku Chaddies are wet and stinking.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Sat, Oct 13 2018

    How come this so called gentleman does not know about the SIT report of Gujarath riots till some one told him? What kind of army man is this who doesn't know the SIT report of the incidents happened when he was the commander/person in charge of military. When he can count (as per him), all details which happened 16 years back but can't remember the SIT formed by Apex Court
    Best candidate for sickular chaddiless for coming 2019 election with good for nothing one more ansari who enjoyed 10 years of power and the day he was asked to step down he feels country is not safe for Muslums

    DisAgree [27] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sat, Oct 13 2018

    Did I just hear a bhakts saying "What about 1984?"
    You can put a lid on the actual truth but truth has a habit of surfacing..... just give it some time.....

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: 2002 Gujarat riots: SIT report a blatant lie, reiterates Lt General Shah



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