Tribune News ServiceNew Delhi, July 16
The decision of the government to hold another probe into the Godhra carnage is “highly politically motivated” and will not serve any purpose, said former Railway Minister Nitish Kumar while defending his role in connection with the tragedy in the Lok Sabha today.
Charging Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav of making incorrect statements in Parliament, Mr Nitish Kumar said there was no need for a fresh departmental inquiry into the incident, which was being probed by the Railway Safety Commission.
Amid repeated interruptions by Treasury Bench members, the Janata Dal (U) leader denied the allegations that he had withheld the forensic report about the burning of a coach of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra in February 2002 and stressed that the entire information related to the incident had been placed before the House.
He said, “Considering the spirit of the rule, it is clear that the interpretation of Section 189 and Section 115 of the Railways Act by the Railway Minister is politically motivated to draw mileage.” He alleged that the statement of Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal that the information about the forensic report was kept under wraps was also misleading.
Mr Nitish Kumar’s personal explanation came in the wake of Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav’s order of a departmental inquiry into the Godhra incident on the ground that his predecessor had not ordered any probe nor had he made public the forensic report.
Mr Prasad’s announcement, which reflected a serious doubt about the intention of the previous government, led to prolonged pandemonium in Parliament yesterday with Opposition members forcing the adjournment of both Houses for the day.
Quoting portions of the relevant Act, Mr Nitish Kumar said the Railway Safety Commissioner was authorised to hold an inquiry into any railway accident that might cause loss of life or damage to Railways property.
“It is when the Railway Safety Commission expresses its inability that the Railways authorities, belonging to the area where the mishap has taken place, conduct a probe,” he said.
Mr Nitish Kumar’s statement was marked by frequent disruptions by a section of the Congress, RJD and CPM members.
Amid repeated interruptions from RJD members, Mr Nitish Kumar told the House that he had not visited the site of the incident because it was not a train accident but a law and order problem. Rejecting the charge that no Railways official visited the site, he said senior officials from Baroda did visit and had submitted two reports.
Later he told the reporters the NDA might consider bringing a privilege motion against the Railway Minister for misleading Parliament.
