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Rediff.com  » News » 'SIT has been formed to hang Pravin Togadia'

'SIT has been formed to hang Pravin Togadia'

Source: PTI
Last updated on: May 10, 2010 18:00 IST
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Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia was questioned by Supreme Court-constituted Special Investigation Team, which is probing some cases of 2002 riots, for more than four hours in Gandhinagar on Monday.

The VHP leader, who had come along with his supporters to SIT office, was questioned in connection with a complaint by Zakia Jaffery, wife of former MP Ehsan Jaffery who was killed in Gulburg Society riot of 2002.

Togadia was questioned by former CBI DIG A K Malhotra for more than four hours, SIT sources said.

"SIT has been formed to hang Pravin Togadia. If my name was Hussain, I would not have been called by them," Togadia said after coming out of SIT office.

"SIT has called me because I am a Hindu, no Hindu in Gujarat is safe. In this country Hindu saints, temples, organisations are targets of jihadis," he further said.

Referring to the Godhra train carnage incident, Togadia said no SIT has been formed to find out the truth about the deaths of 57 karsevaks in Godhra.

When asked about what kind of questions he was asked, he said, "They asked me what kind of speech I had given one year before riots. They also asked, why was I in Gujarat at the time of riots and whom did I talk to".

"I replied, I am a Hindu, I have right to be in Gujarat and with regard to whom I contacted, I know 82 crore Hindus in the country whom should I name," Togadia said.

'Will take action against Zakia, Setalvad'

Togadia also said he would take action against Zakia Jaffery and Teesta Setalvad, on whose complaint he was called for questioning by the Special Investigation Team in connection with Gujarat riots.

"I too, at an appropriate time, will take action against Zakia Jaffery and Teesta Setalvad, who have dragged me before the SIT," Togadia told reporters outside the SIT office

Zakia has complaint in which she alleged that Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others, which include his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.

Social activist Setalvad is also a co-complainant. When asked what action he was contemplating against them, Togadia said, "I will let you know in a few days time."

"They (Zakia and Teesta) are not interested in getting justice for the families of those killed in Godhra in 2002," he said.

Togadia also targeted SIT chief R K Raghavan for his statements in the media. "If action is taken against me for any of my speeches, then action should also be taken against Raghavan for his statement in media that Zakia's complaint was Bible for him," he said.

On the arrest of IPS officers in connection with fake encounters in Gujarat, Togadia said, "There will be a situation when police will be jailed and terrorists exploding bombs on the streets."

Image: Pravin Togadia

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