When one of the representatives asked how many accused had been convicted for the 2002 Gujarat riots so far, Sareshwala replied that so far 63 Hindus, including former BJP leader Maya Kodnani, have been given life term imprisonment ranging from 30 to 38 years. 460 Hindus have been convicted so far in seven cases, and trial is going on in two cases for the last 12 years, he added.
Sareshwala, considered close to Narendra Modi, pointed out that in the past, more than 5,000 Muslims died in the Ahmedabad riots in 1969, which was followed by riots in 1985, 1987, 1990 and 1992 under different regimes.
During the Nineties, he said, people in Ahmedabad faced curfews for 200 days in a year, and night curfews stretched for six months. There has not been a single communal riot in Gujarat since 2002, Sareshwala said.
Asifa Khan said, it was sheer misinformation that Modi did not act for three days when the 2002 Gujarat riots took place. The army, which was posted on the border after the Parliament attack, was called in and many rioters died in police firings, she added.
