Stay sought on discussion of Nanavati panel report in Guj Assy

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) today sought a stay on discussion in the Gujarat Assembly on the Justice G T Nanavati report, in which Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues and police officials were exonerated of charges of involvement in the 2002 Gujarat communal riots.

Counsel for the PUCL mentioned in the Supreme Court seeking immediate stalling of the discussions on the report in the Assembly.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal asked the counsel,''Where is your petition? First, file the petition only then we will consider your prayer.'' Counsel for the petitioner said the PUCL will file the petition tomorrow.

The Judges also told the counsel for PUCL that it was only a preliminary report and not the final report.

Justice Nanavati, retired Judge of the Supreme Court, in his preliminary report submitted to the Gujarat government today, which was placed in the Assembly, also said the Godhra train burning incident was a pre-planned conspiracy and 140 litres of kerosene oil was used to set bogie number S6 of the Sabarmati express on fire in February 27, 2002.

Fifty-nine kar sevaks were roasted alive, when the fire broke out.

Justice Nanavati panel was appointed by the Narendra Modi Government to look in to the role of the BJP government and police officials in the riots.

Another Inquiry Commission was appointed by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and it was headed by Justice U C Bannerjee, another retired the Supreme Court Judge. Justice Bannerjee had indicted the Narendra Modi government and BJP minister, police oficials as well as the Chief Minister himself for alleged involvement in the riots, which had left over 2000 people belonging to a minority community dead.

The report was presented in the Assembly by the State Government after sometime, when the matter was mentioned before the apex court.

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