2002 Gujarat riots: Will Amit Shah help Maya Kodnani prove her innocence?

New Delhi: The BJP’s spin doctors are in a dilemma over the Gujarat special SIT court summons for BJP chief Amit Shah to appear as a defence witness for Maya Kodnani, former BJP leader and minister convicted of organising the biggest massacre in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

While the court has given Kodnani time till Friday to get Mr Shah to testify in her favour, she told the media in Gujarat that she “cannot reach” the BJP president.

Saffron strategists are against Mr Shah “getting involved” in the issue. They feel that Mr Shah appearing as a witness in favour of Kodnani could give rise to a “major controversy” and there’s a possibility of the ghost of the 2002 riots returning to haunt the party before the crucial Assembly polls.

The issue of Gujarat communal carnage, they say, has “died down” and “must not be touched”.

In 2012, Maya Kodnani was convicted of murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison for her role in the riots in Naroda Patiya, a suburb of Ahmedabad, where 100 Muslims were killed.

BJP feels Talaq advantage may be dented
She has also been accused of murder in the riots that took place on the same day, February 28, 2002, next door in Naroda Gram, where 11 Muslims were killed.

It is in this case that she wants Mr Shah to testify on her behalf.

While Mr Shah’s testimony is apparently crucial for Kodnani, BJP strategists say that the party chief’s involvement in the issue before the Gujarat polls “would not send the right signal”.

The party believes that the top court’s order banning triple talaq has gone in its favour and it is all set to get the support of Muslim women.

“The advantage we gained on the triple talaq issue might be dented if we get involved in Gujarat riot cases,” a senior party functionary said.