In its June 3 issue,
broke the story of a minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet having blown the whistle on the Gujarat CM before the Concerned Citizens Tribunal inquiring into the riots. The minister confided that in his deposition he had revealed details of a late-night meeting on February 27 Modi held at his bungalow with senior bureaucrats and police officials. The CM, according to his own cabinet colleague, made it clear that there would be "justice" for Godhra the next day during the vhp bandh. He directed that the police not come in the way of "the Hindu backlash".
When the story appeared, there were strong denials from the Gujarat government. So we went back to the minister, who only reconfirmed the story. Excerpts:
When the story appeared, there were strong denials from the Gujarat government. So we went back to the minister, who only reconfirmed the story. Excerpts:
Did you face problems (regarding the story)?
Minister:
Minister (continuing):
You mentioned Subarao. There was trouble with that.
(The Outlook report named chief secretary G. Subarao and an officer in the CM's office, A.K. Sharma, as among those at the meeting. Neither was present.)
Minister:
You think it is pricking the conscience of people like (Ahmedabad police commissioner P.C.) Pande and (DGP K.) Chakravarthy?
Minister:
Minister (continuing):
Minister (continuing):
