In a press release issued on Thursday, Tehelka magazine claimed that fresh evidence about the 2002 Gujarat carnage had confirmed that the killings of Muslims in the state was strategised and executed by top functionaries of the RSS, VHP and the Bajrang Dal, with the knowledge and sanction of the state authorities and Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
“A six-month Tehelka investigation brings forward irrefutable evidence of many horrific incidents that have remained contested in the last five years,” Tehelka said in the release.
Tehelka said that it had a first hand account from “the men who conducted” the brutal murder of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri by hacking him. Also on record are confessions of rape, besides graphic details about incidents including the one in Naroda Patiya where dozens of Muslims hiding in a pit were doused with kerosene and burnt alive, the statement said.
The Hindustan Times was unable to independently confirm Tehelka’s claims. The Tehelka statement said that a BJP legislator was on record saying that he was present at a meeting in which Modi gave them three days to “do whatever they wanted”.
It added that an accused in the Naroda Patiya massacre — in which 200 Muslims were killed —has been captured on camera as saying that Modi came to Patiya that evening and thanked them saying, “aap dhanya ho” (you are great!).
{{/usCountry}}It added that an accused in the Naroda Patiya massacre — in which 200 Muslims were killed —has been captured on camera as saying that Modi came to Patiya that evening and thanked them saying, “aap dhanya ho” (you are great!).
{{/usCountry}}According to the Tehelka statement, a senior VHP functionary who was on the Sabarmati Express said, “the Muslims have played a one day match with us… they have given us a target of 60…we have to win this match at any cost, so don’t stop till you have made 600 runs ... Modi gave us a free run to do whatever we wanted ... the police was with us”.