BJP rakes up Godhra in poll-bound Gujarat

Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday brought Godhra to the centre-stage for the first time in the run up to next month's assembly elections in Gujarat by publishing large-sized advertisements of the sensitive issue in local and national dailies.

With a fortnight left for the polls, the half-page newspaper advertisements in Hindi and Gujarati accuse the United Progressive Alliance government of trying to rub salt into the wounds of the people affected in the Sabarmati Express train attack in Godhra in 2002.

The advertisements coincided with Modi filing his nomination papers from Maninagar constituency.

The BJP questioned the UPA government's motive in appointing the one-man Justice U C Banerjee Commission to probe the cause of the fire inside the coaches of the train. The train fire had led to the death of at least 59 people, mostly 'Ram Sevaks.'

The Banerjee Commission appointed by the Railway Ministry had reportedly said that the fire was accidental.

The BJP advertisement carrying a picture of Modi in a saffron jacket in a black background has Namak Godhra Ke Ghavo Par? as the title.

It further reads: Banerjee se report banvai, kahan aag bhitar se aaee, case kamjor, bacche sab doshi? Sajish ka parda fash kar, Jeetega Gujarat.

When translated, the advertisement read: "Attempt has been made to rub salt into the wounds caused by the Godhra incident by obtaining a report from Banerjee committee, which tried to weaken the case against the accused. Gujarat will win by exposing the conspiracy."

The advertisement also states that the Gujarat unit of the BJP is the publisher of the advertisement.