Zakia Jafri disappointed over SC verdict on Gujarat riots case

Surat/New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Zakia Jafri, the wife of former MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the Gulbarg Society carnage during the 2002 riots, expressing disappointment with the Supreme Court's decision today said that she would fight for justice till her last breath.

"I will keep fighting, I have continued my fight for so long, so how can I leave it half way. I will continue my fight. I would continue my struggle for justice till my breath," said Jafri

An extremely disappointed Jafri said she was hoping that the apex court's ruling would be in her favour and the real culprits would be punished.

"I was hoping that today's ruling would be in my favour, but now they (Special Investigation Team) have not found any evidences against the culprits, then what can I say. I am not happy with it," said Jafri.

"If the Supreme Court was not able to give the ruling, then what can the lower court do, what can I expect from the lower court?" she added.

In a relief to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the apex court earlier in the day refused to pass any order on his alleged inaction to contain the 2002 Gujarat riots after the Godhra carnage and referred the matter to the concerned magistrate in Ahmedabad for a decision.

A three-judge apex court bench headed by Justice D K Jain directed the SIT, which is probing the riot cases, to submit its final report before the magistrate who was asked to decide whether to proceed against Modi and 63 others, which includes senior government officials.

The bench made it clear that there was no need for it to further monitor the riot cases.

The bench, which also comprised Justices P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam, said in case the magistrate decides to drop proceedings against Modi and others, he has to hear the plea of slain MP Ehsan Jafri's widow Zakia Jafri, who had filed a complaint against the Gujarat Chief Minister.

The apex court passed the order on a petition by Jafri alleging that Modi and 62 top government officials deliberately refused to take action to contain the state-wide riots, triggered by the February 27, 2002 Godhra train carnage. (ANI)