Congress not surprised over Godhra Commission findings

New Delhi, Sept 25 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday said it was "not at all surprised" by findings of the Nanavati Commission on the Godhra carnage which gave a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"We are not at all surprised by the results. It is a
Commission created virtually by the principal accused Narendra
Modi to investigate into the system of the State on which it
presides," said Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi.

He was reacting to the report of the Commission that went
into the Godhra train tragedy in which 58 kar sevaks returning
from Ayodhya were burnt alive when a mob had allegedly set a
bogey of Sabarmati Express on fire in February 2002.

"You cannot expect an impartial report from a Commission
which had to submit its report to the same Government which
constituted it," he said.

The part one findings of the Nanavati Commission have
already been contradicted by another Commission (U.C. Banerjee
Commission) which was not from Gujarat but was set up by the
Railway Ministry.

Singhvi said it could have been in the fitness of things
if the Commission was appointed from outside the state.

Criticising the Gujarat Government, he said the Supreme
Court had transferred the cases relating to Godhra violence
outside the State, something which is rarely done. It is a
"stinging commentary" on the impartiality of the state
Government.

Asked about the political implication of the Nanavati
Commission report, Singhvi refused to comment. PTI AMI