On Monday, BJP President Amit Shah explained to the special court that former Gujarat Minister Maya Kodnani was at the State Assembly and then at a government hospital the day of the deadly riots that broke out in Ahmedabad in February 2002.
Amit Shah appeared in court as a defense witness for Maya Kodnani. Maya Kodnani is being accused of inciting a mob that killed 11 people in Naroda Gam in Gujarat on 28th February 2002. At present, the former Minister has already been convicted for the rioting in Naroda Patiya in Ahmedabad. This conviction has led to life imprisonment for Kodnani.
Recollecting the deadly riots that began when a bogie of the Sabarmati Express was allegedly set on fire by a mob of Muslims at Godhra in 2002 that resulted in the death of 59 Hindus. The fire on the train was an excuse for a three day long riot in which nearly 1,000 people were killed mostly Muslims.
Amit Shah’s said in court, “Mayaben Kodnani was not at Naroda Gam but at the State Assembly at 8.30 A.M. From 9:30 A.M., to 9:45 A.M. I was at the Civil Hospital and I met Maya Kodnani there.”
Maya Kodnani had requested the court to summon Amit Shah in her defense to prove her innocence.
Amit Shah’s statement has been interpreted differently by the two sides. The prosecution lawyer Shamshad Pathan said, “Amit Shah told the court Maya Kodnani was in the assembly in the morning and then was seen leaving the hospital around 11:30 A.M., This does prove she was present at Naroda Gam when the violence happened.”
Maya Kodnani has been out on bail since 2014 due to health issues.
The Supreme Court arranged for six special courts in 2009 to speed up the trails in cases regarding one of the worst religious riots in India.
