‘Bhatt didn’t attend Modi’s 2002 meet’

Nityanandan categorically stated that Modi had not issued any specific instructions. He said the CM had only discussed the law and order situation.

Mukim said he was not aware of any specific instructions being issued to the police officers. When Mukim was specifically asked if he knew Bhatt,he said he had not met Bhatt but could identify him,suggesting that the police officer was not present at the meeting.

While denying Bhatt’s presence at the meeting,Nityanandan also said neither the then Minister of State for Home Gordhan Zadafia nor any other minister or the then Joint Secretary (Home) Prakash Shah were present at the meeting.

The two officers said that among those present at the meeting were the then principal chief secretary to the CM P K Mishra,the then additional chief secretary (home) Ashok Narayan,the then director general of police K Chakravarthi,the then acting chief secretary S K Verma and the then Ahmedabad police commissioner P C Pande.

Both Mukim and Nityanandan said they did not know if any minutes of the meeting were prepared. They also said that they were also not asked to sign on any papers at the meeting.

In response to a question by Mukul Sinha,the advocate for riot victims,Nityanandan said he was asked by Ashok Narayan on phone to attend the CM’s meeting. Replying to another question by another advocate Krishnakant Vakharia,Nityanandam said he did not remember whether he travelled alone in his own car or with some other officials to reach to the venue of the meeting.