In her landmark judgment, Justice Jyotsana Yagnik, sentenced Babu Bajrangi, the militant Hindutva leader who was earlier associated with Bajrang Dal, also to life term.
He would remain in jail till death. Riot victims and their families hailed the verdict, as the rioters finally got punished. Kodnani, a gynaecologist, was considered close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, as well as former deputy prime minister and BJP leader Lal Kishenchand Advani.
Kodnani, whose family had migrated from Pakistan, after partition, had settled in Gujarat. The budding rabble-rouser for picked up by senior leaders because of her oratory. Due to substantial Sindhi population in her constituency, she was given ticket and was elected as legislator. She was even made minister and given the portfolio of Women and Child Welfare.
But the ghost of Gujarat carnage finally caught up. Supreme Court appointed SIT initiated probe and after indictment, she was forced to resign. She was arrested and after ten years of legal battle, the court finally sentenced her for 28 years.
Babu Bajrangi, the face of Hindutva movement in Gujarat, has also got punishment. Overall court gave its verdict and 31 persons were given lifer. Apart from Naroda Patiya, the judgments in some other important cases of violence against Muslims in Gujarat during the 2002 pogrom are awaited.
TIH Bureau
