SIT call: Does Narendra Modi have much to worry?

The state BJP and the bureaucracy exuded confidence on Friday, reflecting their belief that chief minister Narendra Modi will only emerge stronger legally and politically after he appears before the Special Investigating Team (SIT). While the Congress was quiet about the summons in the Assembly session, the buzz in the CMO was powered by a host of legal consultations about what course the government should take.

A day after the Supreme Court-appointed SIT summoned Modi to depose before it over his role in the 2002 Gujarat carnage, questions about Modi’s fate were quickly resolved as most analysts believed that his appearance before the SIT may only strengthen him.

“What can it achieve by one more deposition? It is not in a position to interrogate, grill anyone or Modi. Can it force  him or anyone to say something that one chooses to hide?  So what will this achieve except creating a hype?” Viewed analysts.

On Friday, top bureaucrats, BJP leaders and even legal eagles were of the belief that being summoned by the SIT will have no consequences for Modi’s political career. “In fact, he will emerge stronger and it will only help him…,” observed a BJP leader.
The state government was quiet over the issue, but a plethora of activities were initiated to stay clear on the legal side. A bureaucrat close to the CM observed, “We have checked out all the legal possibilities by consulting experts and, as such, there is nothing to worry about the complaints made by Jafri’s widow.”

“There is no direct evidence against Modi," the bureaucrat said. In fact, he mooted an argument which was similar to that doing rounds in the BJP: "The witnesses have also told that Jafri had called up the offices of the Congress leader Ahmed Patel and other senior leaders in New Delhi. So will they be held liable?"
They were quick to cite instances of numerous incidents which have happened across the country in which leaders like LK Advani, Sajjan Kumar and  Lalu Prasad Yadav have been summoned by the various agencies and courts but nothing has happened to them, despite strong evidence.

Another senior officer who specialises in legal matters said, "There are no constitutional or legal liabilities on the CM or the political head of the state in a riot-like situations. The direct-action duty lies on the police head and local officers of the disturbed area. So by any means, a CM cannot be held directly responsible." Despite the fact that this is the first time any chief minister has been called for inquiry in a criminal investigation, state's Congress legislators remained mysteriously quiet on the subject, and two MLAs in fact did the unthinkable - praised the government for reducing crime and improving infrastructure in a constituency. Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil was not present during the question hour.

The justification given at a later stage was that they do not want to politicise the issue as the SC is closely watching all developments. "Since the matter is sub judice and the Supreme Court is watching, we do not want to make it appear that Modi is being targeted as Jafri was a Congress MP. Moreover, a plea to reconstitute SIT is also scheduled in the SC early next week," a Congress MLA told DNA.

(Reporting by Kapil Dave, Nikunj Soni and Roxy Gagdekar)