The absence of the former Urban Development Minister, I.K. Jadeja, from cross-examination has invited strong discontentment from the G.T. Nanavati-Akshay Mehta judicial inquiry commission which was appointed to probe the 2002 Godhra train massacre and the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat. The reason for the absence of Mr. Jadeja was dismissed by Justice Nanavati as unreasonable and he said that now the dates of hearing would be fixed according to the convenience of the Jan Sangharsh Manch which was unduly put to trouble due to the “last-minute decision” of the Minister to absent himself.

The commission members were displeased by the last-minute decision of the minister to absent himself and the reasons furnished by him were also not accepted by the members of the commission. Mr. Jadeja’s advocate, himself, was not aware of such an absence of the Minister till the eleventh hour.

At the time of the Godhra riots Mr. Jadeja, the then Urban Development Minister, is alleged to have stationed himself at the Police Station, on the direction given by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and is said to have been giving direction to the police forces when the information regarding the communal clashes came in.

Godhra Panel expressed discontent over the absence of the ex-Minister

Report by Radhalakshmi