Search the Internet          Tips

Congressmen involved in Godhra
attack: BJP

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Gopalsinh Solanki on Tuesday alleged that local Congress leaders were involved in the attack on the Sabarmati Express in Godhra.

Speaking to rediff.com from his residence in Godhra, Solanki refuted the Congress claim that the arrested men had contested the municipal elections as independents.

"Mohammad Hussain Kalota and some of his associates in the heinous crime had put out an advertisement in a local Gujarati newspaper on May 10, 2001, expressing gratitude to the Congress party for getting them elected in the municipal elections. I have given the copy of the advertisement to Home Minister L K Advani to prove that Kalota is a congressman," Solanki claimed.

Kalota was a district convenor of the minority's cell of the Congress while Salim Sheikh, another accused, was the vice president of the youth Congress in Godhra.

"Bilal Haji, who is absconding, has also been associated with the Congress," he said.

Shanti Patel, a former minister in the Union Cabinet, had earlier told rediff.com that the three were never associated with the Congress and showed the list of party candidates for the municipal elections.

"Shanti Patel can claim anything now. The fact remains that the accused have direct links with the Congress," Solanki asserted.

When asked why the administration had allowed the accused to walk around freely in the police station and mingle with the officers, Solanki said he had no idea about it.

"I have never been to the police station so I do not know whether he was allowed to sit on the chair by the police officers. If that was done it is wrong and I will take up the matter. Secondly, Kalota has always been acting as a mediator between the police and the accused. Since he is an advocate by profession, he is bound to have cordial relations with them," he said.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report