Gowda calls for national panel for probing communal violence

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) Doubting the credibility of the Justice Nanavati Commission report on the Godhra train burning because it gave a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Janata Dal President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today demanded establishment of a 'National Truth Reconciliation Commssion' to probe all incidents of communal violence.

In a statement, Mr Gowda expressing his 'surprise and disappointment' over the contents of the Commission's report on Godhra trategy and the communal holocaust in Gujarat said the clean chit to Mr Modi and his police was on 'expected lines' terming the event a 'pre-planned conspiracy'. It would further polarise the country which was already reeling under the impact of terrorist attacks and assault on the minority community.

He reminded that Gujarat Counsel had threatened to resign if Mr Modi did not apologise for his remarks on the fake encounter of Sorabuddin Shiekh.

Even when the Godhra train burning and riots were taking place he had written to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani that the probe should be headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge and not a retired judge.

''Unfortunately my demand had fallen on the 'deaf ears' as the nation witnessed the violence let loose by the 'lumpen elements' of Sangh Pariwar.'' If the Truth Reconciliation Commission is in place, it would restore faith of people in the system. There should be separate inquiries by sitting judges to probe attacks on the minority community across the country and the involvement of BJP and its sister outfits, he demanded.

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