English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Amit Shah finally comes to Maya Kodnani’s defence in Naroda Gram riots case

Published

7 years ago

on

Amit Shah court

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kodnani, already convicted in the Naroda Patiya riots case, had repeatedly sought Shah’s testimony in her defence to prove that she was with him when the riots broke out

Former minister in the Gujarat government and BJP leader Maya Kodnani finally managed to convince BJP national president Amit Shah to testify in her defence in the Naroda Gram riots case before the Ahmedabad sessions court, on Monday. Shah, who Kodnani claimed to be with when riots broke out in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Gram area on February 28, 2002, had so far evaded appearing in the court as a defence witness.

On September 8, the special court of judge PB Desai had given Kodnani time till September 12 to serve summons to the BJP national president to come before it and depose on her behalf. Shah was later granted time till today (September 18) to record his deposition at the Ahmedabad sessions court.

Shah arrived at the court premises around 11 am to record his statement and in what would have come as major relief for Kodnani – who is already convicted of inciting mobs and leading the riots in Naroda Patiya locality during the 2002 post-Godhra pogrom – corroborated her claims.

In his deposition that lasted for about 45 minutes, Shah endorsed Kodnani’s claim that she was with him in the Gujarat assembly when the riots in Naroda Gram broke out and that later the two went to the Sola Civil Hospital (located in Sarkhej assembly constituency which Shah was MLA of in 2002).

Kodnani’s counsel, Amit Patel asked Shah of his whereabouts on February 28, 2002 (the day of the Naroda Gram riots) to which he replied: “I went to the assembly at 8:30 am on that day. The Vidhan Sabha proceedings got over in about half an hour after condolences were given to Godhra victims… After the assembly got over, I received many calls from Sola Civil hospital as it was in my constituency, so I went there (at around 9.30-9.45 am).” Asked if Kodnani was with him at the Gujarat Assembly and then again at the hospital, Shah replied in the affirmative.

Maya Kodnani

Shah recounted the scenes at the Sola hospital, where bodies of ‘karsevaks’ killed in the Sabarmati train burning incident on February 27, 2002 – which is seen as the trigger for the killing of Muslims that took place over the next three days across Gujarat – were brought from Godhra.He said there was a “lot of commotion and confusion (at the hospital). Relatives of those who died were there and the post-mortem was on.”

“I was not allowed entry into the post-mortem room. I met with family members of the Godhra victims whose post mortem and identification was completed. There were several karyakartas with me, people were angry and were raising slogans when I was coming out of the hospital,” Shah recalled. He told the court further that he “tried to pacify the crowd but they surrounded me… police had to take me and Mayaben (Maya Kodnani) away from the spot in one of their jeeps. This was around 11 – 11:15 am.”

The BJP national president told the court: “Maya Kodnani did not go to Naroda Gam between being at the assembly session and Sola hospital” and that when the cases against them for their alleged roles in the riots began the two “did speak about (Shah) appearing as a witness (for Kodnani) in the Naroda Patiya case but the SIT has not bothered to ask me whether I was with her on February 28, 2002, or not.”

Kodnani has already been convicted (in 2012) and sentenced to 28 years in prison for her active role in instigating the Naroda Patiya riots. She was held as the “kingpin” of the riots. Kodnani and 31 other convicts in the Naroda Patiya riots case have challenged the verdict in the Gujarat High Court which concluded its hearing on August 30 and has reserved the verdict.

While Shah’s deposition in Kodnani’s favour shouldn’t surprise anyone (both were BJP legislators during the riots, were later inducted by then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi into his cabinet and were considered very close to Modi then – Shah is still Modi’s closest aide), his acceptance of the court’s summons after having consistently evaded them for years is something that can be seen as politically relevant.

Naroda riots

Gujarat goes for Assembly polls in less than three months from now. With Shah finally choosing to defend Kodnani – the most high-profile BJP leader to have been convicted in a riots-related case – it seems that the BJP has signaled that Hindutva would still be an intrinsic part of its election campaign in the state where the saffron party has been in power for over two decades. The ghost of the post-Godhra riots which claimed as per official records the lives of over 800 Muslims (though activists and NGOs peg the figure to over 2000) has haunted Modi ever since but it has failed to keep his political fortunes from being on a constantly upward swing.

Shah’s defence of Kodnani possibly shows that though the state may want to move beyond the horrific memory of the country’s bloodiest riots in recent decades, the political brass – both Congress and BJP – are willing to keep it alive as a poll plank.

The riots have been a polarising factor in Gujarat politics – through the Congress’ bid to encash on it to unite minority votes against the BJP has failed to earn it any dividends. Now, at a time when the incumbent BJP – without Modi as chief minister – is facing a tough challenge in quelling dissent among the Patidars (due to the Patel agitation), Dalits (due to the Una flogging incident) and traders (unhappy over the GST regime), could the memory of post-Godhra riots once again help the BJP romp to power in the state riding on a fear psychosis among both – the Hindu and the Muslim communities?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Bihar news

BPSC 70th prelims result 2024 out: Here’s direct link to check

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Published

3 hours ago

on

January 23, 2025

By

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) released the results for the 70th Preliminary Examination on January 23, 2025. Candidates can view their results on the official BPSC website, bpsc.bih.nic.in. The results include those for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer, and Child Development Project Officer positions.

This year’s examination covered a wide range of posts, including those under the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer (FAO), and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO). The release of these results marks a significant step forward for thousands of candidates pursuing careers in public service within Bihar.

The BPSC 70th Preliminary Examination, conducted on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, witnessed a massive turnout of 328,990 candidates. This substantial number underscores the immense competition and the high stakes involved in securing a government position in Bihar. The results, however, reveal a more selective outcome.

A total of 21,581 candidates successfully cleared the preliminary round for the CCE, demonstrating their competence and readiness to progress to the subsequent stages of the recruitment process. For the specialized roles of FAO and CDPO, a considerably smaller, yet still significant number of candidates qualified. 61 individuals successfully passed the preliminary examination for FAO positions, while 144 candidates qualified for CDPO posts.

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Cut-off Marks:

  • Unreserved: 91
  • Unreserved Female: 81
  • EWS: 83
  • EWS Female: 73
  • SC: 70
  • SC Female: 55
  • ST/ST Female: 65

How to Check Your Results:

  1. Go to bpsc.bih.nic.in.
  2. Locate and click the “BPSC 70th Prelims Result 2024” link.
  3. A PDF containing the results will open. Download and save a copy for your records.

Examination Results: The Bihar prelims exam, held on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, saw 328,990 candidates. The following number passed:

  • Combined Competitive Examination: 21,581
  • Finance Administrative Officer: 61
  • Child Development Project Officer: 144

Continue Reading

India News

Har Jarurat Hogi Puri: Congress releases campaign song ahead of Delhi elections

Congress leaders, including Delhi Chief Devendra Yadav and national spokesperson Pawan Khera, expressed confidence in the anthem’s impact, emphasising its ability to capture the public mood and convey the party’s commitment to resolving Delhi’s pressing issues.

Published

4 hours ago

on

January 23, 2025

By

The Congress party launched its campaign anthem, “Har Jarurat Hogi Puri, Dilli Mein Congress Hai Jaruri” (“Every Need Will Be Fulfilled, Congress is Essential in Delhi”), on Thursday, marking a significant step in its strategy for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

The 2-minute 48-second song serves as a potent weapon in the party’s arsenal, aiming to capture the attention of Delhi’s electorate and sway their votes in its favour.

The anthem’s lyrics directly confront the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), highlighting the prevalent disillusionment among Delhi’s residents regarding the current governance.

It boldly addresses critical local issues, painting a vivid picture of the city’s shortcomings under AAP’s rule. The polluted Yamuna River and the subpar quality of drinking water serve as central themes, with the powerful line “Yamuna Saaf Nahi, Pani Na Saaf Hai” (The Yamuna is not clean, the water is not clean) encapsulating the public’s growing discontent.

Beyond highlighting the existing problems, the Congress anthem meticulously outlines its own vision for Delhi, presenting a compelling alternative to the incumbent AAP government. The party pledges free electricity for households consuming up to 300 units, a promise designed to resonate with the city’s residents struggling with rising energy costs.

The ambitious “Pyari Didi Yojana,” promising a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500 to women from low-income families, aims to further strengthen the Congress’ appeal among the electorate.

Addressing the widespread concern about women’s safety in the city, the anthem criticizes the AAP government’s perceived lack of focus on this crucial issue, arguing that despite promises, women continue to feel unsafe. This pointed critique underscores the Congress’ commitment to addressing this critical aspect of governance, distinguishing its approach from its rivals.

The release of the anthem is strategically timed, closely following the BJP’s launch of its campaign song, “Jo Ram Ko Lekar Aaye Unka Raj Hoga Dilli Mein” (“Those who carry Ram will rule Delhi”). The timing underscores the intensity of the upcoming electoral battle, with both the Congress and BJP vying for the support of Delhi’s voters.

Congress leaders, including Delhi Chief Devendra Yadav and national spokesperson Pawan Khera, expressed confidence in the anthem’s impact, emphasising its ability to capture the public mood and convey the party’s commitment to resolving Delhi’s pressing issues.

The anthem’s release signifies the Congress party’s full-fledged entry into the electoral fray, setting the stage for a closely contested election on February 5th, with results due on February 8th. Over 1.5 crore voters will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

Continue Reading

India News

ChatGPT outage affects thousands of users globally, OpenAI reacts

OpenAI swiftly acknowledged the outage, publishing updates on their dedicated status page. This transparency, while offering little in the way of immediate solutions, served to reassure users that the company was actively addressing the situation.

Published

5 hours ago

on

January 23, 2025

By

On January 23, OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, suffered a significant global outage, leaving millions of users unable to access the service. The disruption affected multiple access points, including the web interface, the mobile application, and even integrations on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). This widespread failure quickly drew significant attention, with reports flooding in from users worldwide.

The outage tracking website, Downdetector, registered a surge in user reports, exceeding a thousand complaints within a short period. This volume underscored the scale of the disruption and the significant impact on ChatGPT’s user base.

The majority of these reports indicated a complete inability to use the chatbot, highlighting the severity of the problem. A smaller percentage of users reported encountering difficulties with the website or API, suggesting a less comprehensive but still noticeable impact.

OpenAI swiftly acknowledged the outage, publishing updates on their dedicated status page. This transparency, while offering little in the way of immediate solutions, served to reassure users that the company was actively addressing the situation.

The official statements consistently described the problem as “degraded performance” and “elevated error rates” within the API, hinting at underlying technical issues that required investigation. However, specific details regarding the root cause remained undisclosed, pending a more thorough examination.

According to reports, the outage commenced around 5 PM IST and persisted for several hours. The lack of a definitive timeline and the ongoing nature of the disruption underlined the complexity of the problem and the challenges faced by OpenAI’s engineering teams in resolving the issue.

As of the latest updates, the exact cause of the outage remains under investigation by OpenAI. The company is actively working to restore full functionality and provide a more comprehensive explanation once the underlying problem has been identified and rectified.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com