Sonia Gandhi’s Claim on Godhra Train Fire Rejected by Former CBI Special Director

New Delhi: Godhra train fire incident has once again come into political discussion. Former CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana has raised questions on the mention of this incident in the autobiography of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi has written in her book that the reason for the fire in Sabarmati Express is still controversial. On this, Asthana disagreed and said that the investigation of the case had been completed and the cause of the fire had been revealed through forensic evidence. He has described the questions arising on the results of the investigation as political.

What did Sonia Gandhi write about the Godhra incident in her book?

Sonia Gandhi has mentioned the incident of 27 February 2002 in her autobiography 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. She wrote that 59 pilgrims had died when four bogies of the Sabarmati Express caught fire. The train was returning from Ayodhya to Ahmedabad and was carrying kar sevaks associated with the Ram Mandir movement.

In her book, she has described the cause of the fire as controversial. Now Rakesh Asthana has objected to this comment.

What did Rakesh Asthana say on Sonia Gandhi's claim?

In an interview to news agency ANI, Asthana said that the investigation into the Godhra train fire had been completed. On the basis of forensic evidence, the cause of the fire was revealed. He said that the findings of the investigation have also been proved in the court.

According to Asthana, even after so much time, there is no other reason to question the investigation. He called it a comment being made for political reasons. 

Was the investigation into Godhra incident given a political colour?

During the interview, Asthana was asked whether this matter was being looked at from the perspective of any particular vote bank. On this he said that all the people killed in the incident were Hindus, but the killing of a person of any religion should be seen as a crime.

He said that the purpose of the investigation was not to benefit any political leader. According to him, it is unfortunate to question the investigation regarding this matter and look at it from a political perspective.

What happened in Godhra train fire?

On 27 February 2002, 59 people died when a coach of the Sabarmati Express caught fire. Women and children were also among the dead. After this incident, communal riots broke out in Gujarat, in which a large number of people lost their lives.

In 2011, the special court had convicted 31 people in the case. After this, in 2014, Gujarat High Court upheld the conviction of 11 convicts and acquitted 20 people. Later, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal of the convicts and upheld the decision of the High Court.