The BJP attacked the Congress for its inept handling of the 2004 Ishrat Jahan case and accused the latter for underplaying the terror plot against the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The attack came after a media report said the then Home Minister P Chidambaram had signed the first affidavit in the encounter case, which he himself accepted and not denied as some media reports specified. As per media reports, the first affidavit mentioned that Ishrat Jahan was part of a terrorist module and action was taken, including some terrorists across the border. The first affidavit said it was a serious terrorist threat and there is no need for a CBI inquiry.
In the second affidavit, Chidambaram was very keen to pursue that bypassing the consultations with then home secretary. BJP alleged that changing the affidavit had two purposes, demoralize the security forces and somehow frame Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. Whereas we all know Modi and Shah are two powerful leaders and no other political parties in India could ever trap leaders of Gujarat. Modi was already under the scanner for 2002 riots, and still no one was found guilty even today.
BJP gave reason to assume Ishrat as terrorist just because some website claimed her as LeT mole on the Lashkar-e-Toiba website. And even (David) Headley the terrorist, (whom now BJP believes as if he is some saint) in his deposition has confirmed that. BJP is hell best on proving Ishrat as terrorist and Chidambaram as anti-national but they forgot the basic fact that the encounter was fake and Modi is responsible for the same. Even assuming that Ishrat was a terrorist, can someone authorised person kill her in a cold-blooded murder? Who gave them the authority for that fake encounter? So far no one answered this basic question but Nirmala Sitharaman twisted narrative to project Modi as a victim of terror plot and that Congress was all out to get him. Do you think Modiji was weak as a leader in Gujarat than a CM of the state?
If a person is a proven terrorist or a murderer-gangster the means to eliminate him/her are not questioned. No one demanded an inquiry in the encounter killings of so many terrorists or twisted the plot to political advantage, why BJP is now twisting the facts? Let’s assume Congress had ill intentions and Chidambaram was guilty, why BJP failed to book him? After all the chaos, BJP seeks Congress’s unconditional apology for supporting terrorists… this is what is BJP’s stand against National Security issue? If Ishrat was a terrorist then the evidence should be made public and Chidambaram should be booked, else BJP should stop playing cat and mouse.
Let good sense exist amongst all concerned. Instead of wasting country’s resources, time, and damaging the reputation, let efforts be made to bring clarity and let us all focus on development rather than petty issues. The country is having major issues to be solved pertaining to skill development, getting the younger generation to be competent to manage several issues, ecological and environmental problems, agri-industrial revolution, making India more greener, afforestation, making India the preferred tourist destination, next level of IT competent India, and the like. Forget these smaller issues by talking to concerned individuals or parties. Let us work hard and this is what was promised by BJP before coming to power. This was the dream showed by Modi to people.
Moreover, Chidambaram stood by his statement that he has made the necessary changes in the affidavit which he felt as Home Minister, is required to do. What more a BJP leader want to accept some political mileage out of a fake encounter. If they were so sure of the terrorist credentials of Ishrat Jahan what prevented BJP from arresting her and exposing the conspiracy. Was she so dangerous that elimination was the only option, if so how come no policeman was even injured in the encounter?
Now the question is “Whether it was a fake encounter or not? Has it been proven that Ishrat was a terrorist by court of law or any evidences? Does Headley’s submission stand the test since it’s hearsay? Even if it is proved that she was terrorist, does the law allow killing an unarmed person? Of course, fake encounters are stage managed to incredible perfection and in India; the citizen’s word of testimony is generally ignored while police version is accorded to be nothing but the truth. Even before arriving at the ultimate truth, the mind-set is already prejudiced. So please stick to the agenda and the issue is who was responsible for giving the order down the line to take extreme action on Ishrat by fair or foul means? Besides the brilliant BJP leader Nirmala Sitaraman who tried her best to prove Chidambaram a terror supporter, must ask some disturbing questions to her own PM about anti-Muslim stance of BJP and RSS and especially 2002 riots. Has anyone been held responsible till today? No one but quite a few Muslims of Gujarat are languishing in jails today. What has Modi done till today to do anything for the minorities? It’s like pinching the child and singing lullaby. Nirmala can do well to introspect about their wrong doings in the past two years and perhaps try to do better for the country.
