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

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7 years ago

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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]

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

PM Modi takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi after Congress picks him for Raebareli, says daro mat, bhago mat

PM Modi, speaking at a Lok Sabha election rally in Bengal, said both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had fled their constituencies.

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3 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today commented for the first time to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s announcement of his candidacy for the Raebareli seat. Rahul is making his way towards Raebareli because he is afraid of Amethi seat, according to the PM.

The Prime Minister sneered as he said at a rally in Bengal that today he also want to tell him, Daro Mat (don’t be afraid), Bhaago Mat (don’t run).

Rahul Gandhi has often said, Daro Mat while accusing the BJP government of using investigaticve agencies to terrorise critics and political opponents.

According to Prime Minister Modi, there is no need for an exit poll or opinion survey because Congress would lose by a greater margin than the previous time.

Their tallest leader did not have the guts to fight the polls in Raebareli, Prime Minister Modi added, making reference to Sonia Gandhi. She went away and joined the Rajya Sabha in Rajasthan.

The PM reffered Rahul Gandhi as Shehzaada and said he would lose Wayanad, as he has predicted. He was searching for a second seat because of this. Also, their supporters said that he would battle from Amethi. However, PM Modi said, he is so afraid that he ran to Raebareli to find a way out.

Additionally, he claimed that the I.N.D.I.A bloc is only committed to the voting base of a specific locality.

Speaking out against the TMC and the Left-Congress allience in Bengal, Prime Minister Modi claimed he was not afraid since he had overcome poverty. Getting scared is not in his dictionary. He is determined to work for the country, he said.

Meanwhile, the Amethi-Raebareli decision was attacked by a number of BJP leaders, who claimed it was obvious that Rahul Gandhi knew he couldn’t win Amethi, where Smriti Irani is contesting again following her stunning success in the previous Lok Sabha election.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Rahul Gandhi to contest from Raebareli, KL Sharma from Amethi

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5 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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The Congress party unveiled its list of candidates on Friday, and the party has picked Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli and Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi has been nominated. After a great deal of speculation regarding the two Uttar Pradesh seats, the announcement was made.

Raebareli and Amethi have both been strongholds for the Congress. Rahul Gandhi lost against BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi.

Taking to social media X, Congress announced their decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli and KL Sharma from Amethi, which was made at a meeting of the Central Election Committee.

Today is the final day to submit nominations for the  fifth phase of the election, which is scheduled to held on May 20th. Both the candidates will file nominations today. 

Priyanka Gandhi praised KL Sharma shortly after the nominees for the two prestigious seats were revealed, stating that his loyalty and dedication will help him win the election.

She wrote X, her family has known Kishori Lal Sharma ji for a very long time. His dedication to serving the public good serves as an example. The Congress Party’s decision to nominate Shri Kishori Lal Ji as an Amethi candidate is a matter of joy. She also said Kishori Lal Sharma will undoubtedly win this election because of his devotion to duty and loyalty.

However, given Union minister Smriti Irani’s success in Amethi in 2019, there is worry that Rahul Gandhi’s change of seat could work in the BJP’s favour. With her impending victory, the senior BJP leader has said that the Congress’s delay was due to cold feet and is prepared to defend the seat.

KL Sharma will contest against Smriti Irani in Amethi in the Lok Sabha elections. While, Rahul Gandhi’s opponent would be Dinesh Pratap Singh, who was named by BJP for Raebareli on Thursday. Singh lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi  is scheduled to hold a roadshow in Raebareli after filing of nominations. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will also visit Raebareli today.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s son Karan gets BJP Lok Sabha ticket from Kaiserganj

Karan Singh Bhushan was on December 13, 1990. He competed at the national level in double trap shooting. He has a daughter and a son. Karan Singh Bhushan completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and law from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University.

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22 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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BJP on Thursday dropped sitting Kaiserganj MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers and gave a ticket to his son, Karan Bhushan Singh. Karan Bhushan, Brij Bhushan’s younger son, is the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association. He is also the head of The Cooperative Bank in Nawabganj in Gonda district.

Karan Singh Bhushan was on December 13, 1990. He competed at the national level in double trap shooting. He has a daughter and a son. Karan Singh Bhushan completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and law from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University.

He has also holds a diploma in business management from Australia. Karan Bhushan Singh is presently the president of the Uttar Pradesh wrestling association. Earlier he was the senior vice president of the UP wrestling association. Elections will be take place in Kaiserganj in the 5th phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 20. Karan Bhushan Singh is likely to file his nomination from Kaiserganj on May 3.

There has been a lot of speculation and suspense on Brij Bhushan Sharan seat this time as the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, who is also a 6-term MP, had been accused of sexual harassment by some of the India’s top wrestlers.

Many female wrestlers, including medallists, protested against the BJP leader and demanded his arrest over the charges of sexual harassment while he was serving the position of the WFI president. Wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, sat on a protest at the Jantar Mantar and demanded action against the Kaiseganj MP.

The Delhi Police later registered a case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354D (stalking), 354A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, on June 15, 2023. But he was granted bail on July 20, 2023.

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