Don't table Godhra report in House: HC

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday directed the UPA government not to table the findings of the Justice UC Banerjee Committee on Sabarmati Express train carnage in Godhra in Parliament, till the court concludes hearing on a related petition.

Justice MR Shah of Gujarat High Court has asked the Centre and all the concerned parties not to table the report in Parliament till the court concludes hearing on a petition filed by a relative of a survivor from the Sabarmati Express train carnage in which 59 persons were killed on February 27, 2002.

The Opposition accused the government of covering up the issue in the name of an accident.

Banerjee Committee said last week that the fire in the Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002 was accidental.

Earlier a Muslim mob was alleged to be behind the train fire that started widespread riots in Gujarat.

Even after Lok Sabha was adjourned, two angry BJP and BSP members nearly came to blows but an ugly situation was adverted with intervention of their colleagues.

Madhusudan Mistri of Congress appealed to BJP members that if they have "any humanity left, they can still expel Modi from the party" in view of the panel's findings.

Shiv Sena's Chandrakant Khaire dubbed the panel's report as "nonsense" and claimed the train disaster was not an accident but a well-planned conspiracy.

Demanding scrapping of the panel, he alleged the Banerjee Committee was "illegal" as the Nanavati Commission was already going into the Sabarmati train disaster in 2002.

The issue was raised by Samajwadi Party's Ramjilal Suman and was seconded by Rupchand Pal of the CPI and others.

The matter also came up immediatedly after Question Hour with CPI-M's Mohammad Salim as also members from SP, BSP, National Conference, MIM and Congress demanding "immediate action" on the report.

Suman said while the guilty were roaming free, innocent people had been booked under POTA.

"Neither the then Railway Minister nor Commissioner of Railway Safety visited the accident site. A communal situation developed after the train blaze and people from the minority community were killed," he alleged.

It was the same story when the House re-assembled after the lunch recess with members from treasury benches raising slogans demanding immediate dismissal of Modi while BJP members chanted slogans hailing the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in the din, moved relevant Apropriation Bills for Vote on Account for consideration.

Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, who was in the Chair, unsuccessfully tried to pacify the agitated members even as BSP and RJD members rushed to the well demanding Modi's ouster. Vikhe Patil then adjourned the House till 1515 hrs IST.