R K Raghavan’s statement in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) that “witness protection will be given the highest priority during trial” and that all witnesses will “be getting adequate protection” is a welcome one. More so because he is the head of the Special Investigation team (SIT) that has been constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate into the Gujarat riots and recently has also been assigned the task of looking into the various complaints against the Chief minister Modi, many of his close associates and some important government functionaries as well. Not that everyone is satisfied with the SIT’s job so far and more often than once, figures have been raised against its functioning, where it has been felt that it has not come up to the expectations of the people in its process of trying to bring the culprits before the Court. And yet, this is what we have and thus every one of us, who knows that Gujarat is the worst example so far of the State sponsored violence and mayhem in our country, are pinning our hopes on the SIT.
Through these words Raghav has tried not only to assuage the feelings of the devastated and brutalized victims but has also tried to instill some sort of confidence in them to come up and speak the truth. He exhorts them by saying that “they need not fear anyone.” How much does he really mean when he speaks these brave-sounding words and how much of it would actually be implemented on the ground during the long processes of trial, no one knows but the fact that witness security is being recognized as an important issues and steps are being taken to ensure it, is itself something to feel good about. Moreover, it also brings forth the fact that even the Supreme Court and SIT, as its assisting body, realizes the possibility of such things happening in Modi’s land.
One more thing that the SIT must do is to complete the arduous and difficult task assigned to it by the Supreme Court as regards investigating into the roles of the bigwigs including the all-powerful and invincible-looking Narendra Modi and his lieutenants. It seems easier than done because of the kind of complete hold that the government enjoys in the State, with its kind of brute majority which naturally makes the affected persons feel helpless and despondent, with no one to really look at for support, save the public spirited persons and social activists. It will be difficult to come out with concrete evidence that would nail down these persons but if the SIT is able to do anything in this regards, it would be truly great service to the Nation.



Dr Nutan Thakur
Editor
Nutan Satta Pravah
Lucknow

maha i agree with you,in fact there is a gujarat riots industry from which teesta and media have profited because of interest by worldwide muslims worldwide.

In the 1992-93 mumbai riots you mentioned,there was a hindu family burnt alive at radhabai chawl just like the godhra train.Teesta then used her well funded resources to free all the accused.Given his silence Ajit will be impressed by this justice effort,after all that family deserves to die according to true hinduism.I converted from hinduism because of people like Ajit who will not comment on the suffererers of thousands of riots and the hindus in kashmir and the karsevaks killed by mulayam.Rule of law eh?Modi's police killed 200 hindus out of 250 and 750 muslims died in the riots but do we ever hear these official facts from truthseeking true hindus like Ajit and his approving media friends who will immediately post such false comments.

Unfortunately ajit's concern for the rule of law is very focused.He comments only about justice when victims are muslims and there is a bjp government and even if the nanavati commission has examined this.

Teesta and her brigade does not need ajit's help which could be bertter focused on rule of law for all.
I converetd because I am ashamed to be a hindu because hinduism is the only group that has people like AJIT
ganging up with the monotheistic hatred against idol worshippers.True hinduism celebrates cowardice,hypocrisy and slavishness without self respect.

The neigbour hood that Ajit refers to has been cleansed of the true hinduism that Ajit celebrates because according to him hindus shuld just lie back and be cleansed.I conratulate him for kashmir and assam in advance.Teesta' website shows a map of kasmir belonging to pakistan.Now that is true hinduism and the rule of law and the hindu victims in all riots and kashmir,pak and bdesh shud be celebrating that in their graves,thanks to confused weak hypocritical dhimmis like ajit and the pseudo seculars.

If I have to guess, I would say that SIT will find no actionable proof that Mr. Modi was involved. Will that make pseudo-seculars happy? Of course no. They will claim that no proof, does not mean he was innocent, just that he was clever. But exactly for the same reason, Mr. Tytler was given 'clean chit' and they jumped on it.

You are welcome. There is no harm in accepting the mistakes. I personally donot agree with you about your comments on Teesta. People like Teesta are like vultures. They use this opportunity and use these victims to serve their own agenda that help them win awards. All the politicians and NGOs are alike. Eventually it is left to common people who are their neighbour who help the victims. I have seen many such cases in 1992 riots in Mumbai.

Nice talking to you, Maha. Very unusual, but welcome, experience on this forum to actually have a civil and agreeable exchange with someone. Thank you.

Reading through other responses, Pasha, to go back to the example used earlier, Tytler has been accusing the Sikh complainants and pointing out similar nitpicking arguments in many cases.

I am not sure we start believing as a result that in case of a mistake in the affidavits, the Sikhs are "cooking up" stories.

I think we should all face up to the fact that unspeakable things were done in the name of revenge. The Godhra killers got away and innocents were brutalised.

We may not like Teesta Setalvad -- I know that I don't as I get put off by her manner -- but the fact is that she is the only one who has actually fought to get the victims justice. Justice that should have been provided by the state government.

True Hinduism demands it -- the least we can do is to introspect. Despite that, we need closure. And we need some impartial institution to decide what happened.

I am willing to wait for the SC to convict Teesta, Modi or anyone else who may have been guilty. Let the punishments be commensurate with the crimes.

Let's try to get justice for the victims, irrespective of religion, so that we can proudly claim that we have rule of law in our country. Which is what makes us different in this neighbourhood.

My bad. Ajit. I donot know why but I thought this was posted later after SIT ambiguously commented on TOI report. I should have checked until SIT confirms the report. I will take my words back. I will still wait for confirmation from SIT and SC ( something I am sure his absolutely true :-))

This seems to be like asking, "So Sita was whose father?" after watching the entire Ramayana. Maha, there seems to be a good reason why your message was not approved. Outlook moderators seem to be slipping up in allowing you to once again raise a question that had been answered long back in these pages only:

http://blogs.outlook...dm=10&pid=1736&eid=5

It seems you have not followed the entire controversy. Why don't you make yourself informed about the rumours being spread by some vested interests?

Do you think the SC is also in a conspiracy with Teesta and other seculars by not prosecuting her?

Ajit,

I have already posted the link what SIT said. Check it here

http://timesofindia....icleshow/4396986.cms

Sundeep did not approve that message. I hope he does this time.

Not so fast, Maha. Leave alone "all ready proved guilty", we are not even sure what the SIT has said about her, if anything, in its report. It is the court which decides who is guilty and who is not. It has not to the best of my knowledge asked for any SIT investigation against her. It has against Modi. I have full faith the in the Supreme Court, whether or not it gives a verdict that I like. If it convicts Teesta Setalvad, I will take its word. I hope you will too, if it convicts Modi. Thank you. Have a nice day.

Ajit,

If Modi is found gulity, he should be punished. But the fact is first we need to punish Teesta as she is already proved guilty for cooking up stories. SIT has confirmed it.

So, if Narendra Modi is found guilty, he will be punished, If not he will be adored. It all depends on how one will be against another during the course of investigation and who is going to rule India after elections. So called Secular parties will try their best with media help to bring more stories. Let us wait and see

Where are all truth-seekers now that the court has ordered Shri Narendra Modi to be investigated for his role in riots?

What are you driving at? sandeep has brought both the stories into public domain, all he says is that only the supreme court knows the truth and to go on calling people names is getting the whole probe no were.Ones love for a ideology must not be a threat to justice.This is the first time since 1947 after 84 the efforts of the vigilant media and right minded citizens a fight for justice has been iniitiated.Be it the 84 victims or 2002 everybody has right to see that those involved be punished. Absolving all accused of wrong doing is what a few want.

Just to clarify: it is not any ideological war or one between two publishing houses -- just a comment based on newsreports that did not add up.

hope outlook publishes this out of respect for the free specch and effort of its readers.nayanika,teesta has had discrepancies in the mansuri case where the victim was alleged as riot victim by teesta but had died of tuberculosis before the riots.Her assistant rais khan as also zaheera sheikh
had discrepancies with teesta's allegations.In another case,teesta's tutored affidavit claimed the victim was raped and the victim disagreed.

Dear Shri Sharma,

Your story, "Gujarat riots witnesses not tutored: SIT" in the Hindustan Times (HT) of 22nd April, 09 is rather confused and misleading. The headline indicates that the SIT chief told your paper that the riot witnesses were not tutored. Your story also says, with finality, that the SIT 'on Tuesday slammed reports that riots witnesses were tutored to give false evidence'.

But, sometime later in the story, when HT asked him about the leaked contents of his report to the SC, you have quoted the same SIT chief, Raghavan, saying that 'he could not confirm whether the leaked contents were true'. If he, the author of the report, could not confirm the veracity of the substance of the leak, how can you headline your story as you have done, which is in fact contadicting the SIT? The leak may be condemnable, the motive may be dubious, but how can the content of the leak be anything other than God's own truth, by which Dhananjay Patnaik, the Times of India reporter swears? He has openly declared that he has had access to the SIT report from which he has quoted chapter and verse. Therefore, your "inspired" story itself looks like a leak by the SIT. And, it is dubious to say the least.

I suspect the SC has not done so, because they rightly want the focus to be on the riot victims, and not on Teesta Setalvad. I don't think any of us can argue with this motive.
Having said that, judges on the SC are old-fashioned, they think in the 1950s, and have no idea how quickly media and opinion move now;they still expect the public and journalists to suspend their decisions on the issue until they announce their judgments. If they knew how times had changed, they would have issued the appropriate clarifications immediately. This is not just an ideological war, but also one between two (both pro-Congress) publishing houses as to who has better inside information.
I don't think anyone at all can honestly claim that there were no riots or that innocent people did not die, the cries of "they deserved it" or "what about us" notwithstanding. The question raised is, was it made to look even worse than it actually was, in order to get attention? And also, if she has lied here, where else has she lied? Once these are answered, more people will be able to move on.
I don't agree with your comparisons with the 1984 riots; those seem to have been portrayed in the media and popular consciousness as less of a threat to India's integrity than these riots. I don't know why, and believe it is partially because the press is so openly anti-Modi, but how does that explain it being anti-Sikh? These riots were forgotten for years at a time, it became inconvenient to remember them. Or is it taken for granted that no matter what, Sikhs are less likely to become frustrated with the idea of India than Muslims, and is that idea itself not also anti-Indian Muslim?

Nayanika, that's a fair point to make that this HT report should also be critically examined -- and yes, the headline at least can certainly be questioned. Which is the reason I put it in quotes.

About your other point, about the SC dirge, yes, I was very disappointed with what the SC bench is reported to have said so far. From the most reliable of the reports about what transpired at the SC, it was conditional as the SC, as per the Hindu, is supposed to have said: "if anybody has given a copy or access of the report...". I felt that they should certainly have cleared the air, particularly because serious allegations have been levelled.

Many issues seem to be getting mixed up: What exactly does the SIT report say about Teesta Setalwad? Does it accuse her of “cooking up macabre tales of killings” or does it merely examine various charges made by her and her group and then goes on to state what could be confirmed and what could not be confirmed out of those?

TOI/ET could easily have settled the matter by simply providing a page number for this one quote: “cooking up macabre tales of killings”.

No matter what the factual position is, the public needs to know. And by not making the report public, the court is, unwittingly perhaps, only making it possible for all sorts of rumours to circulate and insinuations, innuendo, speculation to thrive.

We should at least have clarity. But this situation seems to be a classic Catch 22. No body has seen the report other than Gujarat government and the amicus curiae. In fact, strangely, the press reports seem to suggest that even the SC copy is sealed. So no one other than those two who have presumably read the report can even confirm or deny whether or not what has been published is indeed from the report or not. But since the SIT reports only to the SC, it was important for the SC to clear the air. Since it didn't, the HT perhaps tried doing the best it could: asking SIT sources to confirm whether the alleged leaks could indeed be from its report.

About selective/distorted "leaks" and one news outlet insisting it has access to the report, let's assume that to be the case. But how can even this news outfit know whether what it has access to -- as it says it does -- is the original report or not? How do we know that it has not been made into an unwitting pawn? Surely, the SC owes it to the public to set the record straight?

I should clarify, for me, it is not about Teesta Setalvad or CJP, though I would definitely be interested to know what charges, if any, have been levelled against them in the SIT report, as I said in my very first post on the subject. Only then would we able to examine them with any seriousness. If she/her group is guilty, it needs no reiteration that there should be commensurate punishment. But why prejudge? And why not also listen to what the SIT chief says, that it is important “to ensure a free, fair and speedy trials of the riots cases investigated by the team.”

After all, these were the most serious "riots" since 1984.

In all these 25 years that those fighting for justice for the 1984 Sikh carnage were attempted to be tarnished by various Congress apologists, I for one did not buy the Tytler/Sajjan/Bhagat allegations repeated over the years that the petitioners were cooking up charges or tutoring witnesses to give false testimony.

Nor did any of the acquittals of various Congress goons and hoodlums ever make me think even for a moment that those pressing charges against them were deliberately cooking up stories only because some of the charges could not be proved. Tytler and co. never tired of pointing out how this, that or the other detail had been proved to be wrong.

All of this merely underlines how essential it is for evidence to be truthfully and painstakingly marshalled and presented -- and yet how difficult it can be to fight political pressure and vested interests, selective leaks and distorted reporting. It is instructive to read about the dirty tricks indulged in by Congress leaders in 1984 court cases in the recent book by Phoolka and Mitta, 'When a Tree Shook Delhi'.

That said, it does not mean that credible charges could not exist against Teesta or CJP as alleged in these reports. My argument actually is that if there indeed are credible -- or any -- charges against them, they should be brought out in the open in a credible manner. Because a Gujarat minister has been sent to jail on the basis of the same SIT report is reason enough that this report's contents be taken seriously and it not become the subject of a dodgy mudslinging match between one group and another. Only because it is election time.

If all of us here are partisans for justice and truth, there should be no disagreement about the fact that at least the relevant bits of the SIT should be made public so that we would not just be speculating and would be back to discussing facts.

By the way, even though the SIT report is not made public -- and I want that it should be and have been checking whether one could request for it under the RTI act -- surely we all trust that the SC would know what to do with the charges -- if indeed there are any -- against Teesta/CJP?

The headline and the contents of the HT article don't match. Shouldn't you have noticed that too? No one seems neutral, but you have been especially vocal in defending Teesta.
Doesn't the SC dirge about the report leaking confirm that the TOI report was based on the SIT report, not a Gujarat Government report like you'd suggested? Shouldn't you then correct your blog?

just wish those who so passionately espoused the cause of justice for the 3000 odd innocents who were killed for the actions of 2 off there bretheren.does it mean those affected do not deserve justice,thata what is bieng written.Nobody sane needs to be told that the pakis are the root cause of this resentment against the minorities in general,as for those assholes who call the pakis brothers living in the west,its disgusting.Does it in anyway justify the bloggs which continue to absolve all those who indulged in wrong doing,i have no bias may be you do.Pak is and will pay for its actions but how can you vehemently oppose instiutions which are doing there job.Hasnt the freedom of the west not enlightened you.

Mr Naqwi,
it is very easy for muslims to say whole Indis is to wipe muslims out of world, but it is very difficult for A SINGLE muslim to say he stands for India.Easy to talk of conspiracy but difficult to accept (IRONICALLY NO MUSLIM TILL TODAY CAME OUT TO SAY GODHRA WAS THE SPARK FOR RIOTS )so the muslims were to blame for such crime.This is the state of minds of Indian Muslims since partition, I have to other countries also there the true colors (anti india feelin ) comes to face when Muslims say bhai bhai to pakis and avoid Indians.So if u want somehting form someone first at least prove ur NIYAT then see what India has given to Muslims.First give something to India then ask for something from India.

For those who support Modi and the likes it's a clear divide: Either you are with us or not. For these people, Supreme Court, English media, upright IPS and IAS officials, lower court judges are hatching one giant conspiracy against all Hindus of India.
They are unable to digest the fact that Narendra Bhai Modi and his colleagues in the administration and the political establishment were responsible for the systematic killing of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002.
Supporters of Modi somhow find faith in the judiciary when the suspects of Godhra train burning are tried and when the police bring the suspects to the book. But when the same police and judiciary acts against Modi's ministers and party colleagues for killing Muslims, these ofiicials are branded Hindu haters!!
Grow up guys.

DRHARUN

Not so fast dear! Secular position: ethnic cleansing of Hindus from Kashmir never happened. Secular position: Those who were burned n Godhara deserved it since they were Hindu pilgrims. Secular position: Anyone uttering the word Hindu is a Nazi, anyone denouncing Hindus is an incarnation of God! Secular position: Lalu Yadav who (according to M. J. Akbar, no less. see here: http://mjakbarblog.b...aid-for-cancer.html) campaigned with look alike of Osama bin Laden is a beacon of secularism. Secular position: All the terrorist activities can be justified using the bogey of Gujarat riots!

I could go on for a long time. But ulta chor kotwaal to daate?

when people living in the devolped world behave like set off those blinded by hatred ,what do we expect from politicians.its so dam obvious that a few have made up there mind and that it makes no difference to them even if proof is provided,for them law is a ass.why are we wasting tax payers money by having the whole thing probed its leading us no were.the whole episode has shown the insensitive side of those who talk of justice for all.common folks 2002 never happened and all that shown and written was a conspirasy against the majority ,the media have lost it.is that ok.hope so.

Maha,

You are right. The TOI reporter said those were the page numbers from the SIT report. But there were far many more assertions in the TOI reporter's first report. He did not even mention those in his second report where he gave page numbers. Since no body has seen that SIT report, we do not know what to believe. Which was the intention of those who wanted to sow doubts in the minds of the people. Remember, it is the election time, and one Gujarat minister has been put in jail based on the SIT report. Do you think the SC is conspiring with the "secularists" to help out that desh-drohi Teesta? I may be put off by the way she comes across, but surely if she is really guilty, why would the Supreme court not book her for perjury and other relevant crimes?

Zeenat,

"In other words, these leaks are not from the SIT report but "appear to have been based on statements of state police officials"."

Interesting. As TOI reporter actually gave information from specific pages of SIT report in his rebuttal, I have to admire that state police officials have great memory to remember all those pages of the report also. What doesn't SIT not provide rebuttal to TOI report instead of making such ambigious statements

Vivek, if you see the third paragraph from the last, in your quoted text, you'd find it clearly saying:

The SIT sources said the alleged leaks appear to have been based on statements of state police officials and “cannot be termed as findings of the report.”

In other words, these leaks are not from the SIT report but "appear to have been based on statements of state police officials".

I hope that helps.

Actual article in HT.

They blame people for selective leaking and with dubious intentions. It does not reject the leaks anywhere.
--------------------...--------------------

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing major cases of 2002 anti-Muslim Gujarat riots on Tuesday slammed reports that riots witnesses were tutored to give false evidence for exaggeration of the situation, by activists and organisations helping the victims.

The SIT rebuttal followed the alleged leak of its report recently, which was submitted to the Supreme Court in March. “The findings of the report have concentrated on the investigations into the cases and it was not our business to indulge in the blame game and level allegations,” a senior SIT official said.

The SIT response to the reported leak came on a day, when the Supreme Court termed the leak as a “betrayal of the faith reposed in those to whom the report was allowed access”.

A news story in an English daily last week claimed access to the confidential SIT report, and allegedly quoted from it, that the “rights activists cooked up macabre tales of wanton killings”. It further stated 22 witnesses who had “submitted identical affidavits relating to riots were found tutored.”

Asked about the leaked contents of the report, the SIT chief, R. K. Raghavan told Hindustan Times that he could not confirm whether the leaked contents were true.

“I am answerable only to the Supreme Court. The alleged reported leaks appear to be inspired by dubious motives. I cannot confirm such claims. The act is highly condemnable,” Raghavan said.

Raghavan, a former CBI chief, said the priority for the SIT, which was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court in March last year, now was “to ensure a free, fair and speedy trials of the riots cases investigated by the team.”

The SIT sources said the alleged leaks appear to have been based on statements of state police officials and “cannot be termed as findings of the report.”

The secret contents of the SIT report, on the basis of which BJP leader and former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani was arrested, have been a topic of high speculation.

The SIT has probed one of the worst riots in the country in recent years, the official toll for which now has been revised to 1180.

"We can all now go back to our prejudices, conspiracy theories, biases, beliefs."

Exactly. It is so visible in your own articles on this subject.

Media were kneeling down before Indira Gandhi during Emergency from 1975 to 1977. After Janata Party came to power and lifted the censorship, media started attacking that government. Except a few, most of the English channels and newspapers are biased towards majority Hindus to please their bosses.

@ Other comments below me: Blah Blah Blah. It was the Gujarat govt. who was trying to fool us all and it seems like it didn't succeed, coz we didn't get fooled and the fools (below me) needn't be fooled again. My friend underneath forgot to pick this from the HT report:
The SIT sources said the alleged leaks appear to have been based on statements of state police officials and “cannot be termed as findings of the report.”

First of all, Outlook has a grip on bias prejudice so you might want to think for a second before accusing anyone who disagrees with you of prejudice.

Secondly, the headline in HT is not supported at all by the contents of the article. Mr Nagender Sharma quotes Mr. Raghavan as saying "I cannot confirm such claims" and that the leak was "betrayal of the faith reposed in those to whom the report was allowed access".

As per the article, Mr. Raghavan has not denied that the witnesses were tutored. In fact he has not made any statements regarding this. He has slammed those who spoke out of turn though ( i.e. talked about the report and its contents before the report has been published). Therefore, take a breath before you try to spin this report as the final word on this matter.

Finally, Outlook needs to remember this : you can fool some people all the time, you can fool all people some of the times, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

The "secular" media and the "secular" political milieu in India always conspired against Hinduism, for the last 6 decades. Nobody trusts the Congress-left and the media, any more