Gujarat Minister resigns as HC cancels her bail in 2002 riot case

Ahmedabad/New Delhi, Mar 27 (ANI): Gujarat Women Development and Child Welfare Minister Mayaben Kodnani was forced to resign from the State ministry on Friday as the High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to her.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has accepted the resignation.

Kodnani, a three-time MLA from the Naroda constituency is an accused in the Naroda Gam and Naroda Patiya massacre cases in which around 95 people were killed in the communal violence of 2002.

On Monday, the Gujarat high court had reserved its order on the application filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Kodnani, and VHP leader Jaideep Patel.

Justice DH Waghela also heard the applications filed by three witnesses of the 2002 riots cases seeking to join as party in the application submitted by the SIT.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Kapil Sibal has asked the BJP to apologise to the nation for the shameful Gujarat riots.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Sibal said that gradually more and more crimes committed during the riots would be unraveled.

"As long as Modi remains the poster boy of BJP, the saffron party can not lead this country to unity and prosperity," he added. (ANI)