Teesta demands to file an FIR against Modi

New Delhi, Mar 12 (ANI): Social activist and lawyer Teesta Setalwad, who is in the forefront of the fight to bring justice to the 2002 Gujarat riots victims, on Thursday demanded that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) should register a complaint against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to ANI, Setalwad described issuing of summons to Modi as a step towards achieving justice.

"Issuing of summons is one step ahead, because until today no one dared to question Modi for his role in 2002 carnage. Issuing of the summons persae, legally means nothing until and unless an FIR is registered," Setalwad said.

Earlier in the day, Modi was issued summons asking him to appear before SIT on March 21 to explain his role in a 2002 Gujarat riots case.

"Modi has been accused of mass murder and criminal conspiracy. There is enough prima facie evidence to file an FIR. So, we hope that step should be taken first," she added.

Setalwad said that the activists as well as riots victims have made such demand even before Supreme Court.

"We are already made such demands, the citizen forum for peace and justice already made the demand, went to the Supreme Court with very well substantive evidences, when we asked the Supreme Court to register a complaint on April 27, 2009 Supreme Court ordered SIT and asked to act as per law," Setalwad said.

She further said that though a there is a little fear about SITs action, but the activists have not lost all hope.

"We believe that in fact the SIT ought to have done that first and then go to the inquiry. Therefore we are a bit skeptical, but we have not lost all hope," Setalwad said.

The SIT has said it would question Modi with regard to the February 28, 2002 Gulberg Society carnage.

A turbulent mob attacked the Gulberg Society in Chamnapura locality Ahmedabad and burnt at least 37 people alive.

The Supreme Court had appointed the SIT to enquire into the 2002 Gujarat riots that followed the burning of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra that claimed 59 lives.

The SIT headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director R. K. Raghavan is to submit its report to the Supreme Court by April.

The summons to Modi is in connection to a petition submitted by Zakia Jaffrey, the widow of Ehsan Jaffrey, a former Congress Member of Parliament, who was murdered during the Gulberg Society riots.

The Gulberg case is totally separate from the nine other cases related to the Gujarat pogrom.

Zakia Jaffrey had filed a 100-page complaint alleging the involvement of Modi and 62 others. (ANI)