Ahmedabad, Aug 31 Jagruti Pandya, widow of slain BJP leader and former Gujarat Minister Haren Pandya, today sought cooperation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader L K Advani in the re-investigation into her husband’s murder so that “real culprits still roaming free” could be booked.
Addressing a news conference two days after the Gujarat High Court acquitted all 12 accused for slack investigation in the case, Ms Pandya vowed to continue her fight for justice and urged Mr Modi to ensure that ‘real’ culprits in the case are brought to book and punished.
“Mr Modi should show that he is an ideal chief minister by ensuring justice to me. My family is eagerly waiting for a positive response from Mr Modi’s side in this regard,” she said.
“There was BJP rule at the Centre as well as in the state when my husband was murdered on March 26, 2003. The Gujarat High Court verdict has vindicated many apprehensions about the course of investigations. That shows that real culprits are still roaming free. I want the truth behind my husband’s murder come out. Without Mr Modi’s co-operation, one cannot clear speculations regarding the murder,” she added.
Ms Pandya said, “Despite several apprehensions about the murder, I have kept up my faith in the judicial process for past eight years. The verdict clearly suggests that real culprits are still at large and here is the limit of my tolerance.
My husband was a disciplined worker of BJP, I too believe in discipline. BJP is a family to me and party patriarch Mr Advani is like a father to me. I hope he will stand by this daughter in her fight for justice. When the tragedy struck our family, my both sons were very young. I was a simple housewife and suddenly I had to take up dual responsibility of a mother and a father for my children.”
