We will obey the order: Gujarat government

The Gujarat government on Tuesday said it will obey the Supreme Court order to re-investigate over 2000 riots cases.

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Speaking exclusively to rediff.com, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah said the re-investigations will be carried out in accordance with the spirit of the SC direction.

"No wrongs were committed in the previous investigations, but still we will respect the sprit of the order. It's our duty. Supreme court is the last judicial stage in our Constitution and we immensely respect it," he added.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi was unavailable for comment.

The over 2000 cases that will now be reopened are the ones where the investigations were closed after marking the accused 'untraceable'

Sources said these cases mostly relate to arson, rioting, harassment and damage to property. Less than 2% of these cases are related to any loss of life.

Many senior leaders in Gujarat claim reopening the cases will lead communal tensions in the state.
 
Social activist Achyut Yagnik, however, said: "The judgment is an indictment of the Gujarat government. They are living in a fool's paradise if they think that it will eventually help in consolidation of Hindu votes. It's high time that Gujarat government understood the difference between NHRC's concerns and Supreme Court's orders."