(Indian Express,
December 18, 2006)
VHP funded my battle against Banerjee panel: Bhatia
Vikram Rautela
Godhra Probe: Survivor of S-6 carnage, he had challenged constitution of panel, which GujaratHC later termed ‘illegal’
AHMEDABAD, DECEMBER 17: The man on whose petition the Gujarat High Court termed Justice UC Banerjee Commission as illegal, is not sure on which grounds he had challenged the constitution of the commission. Nor does he remember when he had moved the High Court. But one thing that Neelkanth Bhatia is candid about is that the VHP supported him and bore all expense of the legal battle.
Bhatia, a survivor of the Godhra incident, had been evading mediapersons ever since his petition had been moved in the HC in September 2005. The Indian Express, which had been trying to speak to Bhatia for the last one month, finally managed to track him down on Friday night.
Bhatia had been refusing to speak on pleas that he was busy with his night shifts and increased workload at the factory. But when this correspondent met him and his family members at his Harinagar Society residence near CTM cross roads on city outskirts, he admitted his links with the VHP. He, however, refused to be photographed.
Bhatia had survived the February 27, 2002 torching of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express in Godhra, with burns on both legs. While that incident claimed 59 lives, at least 1,000 more were killed in the communal riots that broke out in the aftermath of that.
Bhatia, 52, works as a tool fitter at a private factory in Vatva GIDC. His family of six — wife Mandakini, three sons and a daughter-in-law survives on his modest monthly salary of Rs 5,000. The couple, however, hold important positions in the VHP set-up. And they have also been given police protection at their residence since the Godhra incident.
When asked on which grounds he had challenged the Banerjee Commission, Bhatia said it had given varying reports at different points of time. “It once said that the coach caught fire while someone was cooking food. Later it said that it was an accident. How can they give different reports?” he reasoned, adding that the High Court had rightly held it illegal.
He went on: “When the Nanavati-Shah Commission is already probing the case, why should another commission be there?” Asked when he moved the court, Bhatia said: “I don’t remember exactly when, but it was after Lalu Prasad Yadav became the Railway Minister.”
Asked if the VHP supported him in the legal battle, Bhatia was more than being honest: “VHP ka to pura support hai na humko (we have full support of the VHP).”
And about the expenses, especially the fat fees the prominent advocates took, Bhatia just shot back: “Woh ho jata hai. Lekin kharch kaun karta hai yeh likhne ki jarurat nahi hai.” (that is taken care of, but you don’t have to write all this). On being asked to name his sponsors, an angry Bhatia started cursing all mediapersons and refused to talk more.
Bhatia and Mandakini were among the kar sevaks who were injured in the Godhra incident. They had been given a compensation of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 by the Railways.
Ask them about the incident and the couple blame it on Muslims who, they say, had pelt stones at the coach and set it on fire. While Bhatia claims to have been saved by some volunteers, an average-built Mandakini says she was unconscious and someone pulled her out through a window in the coach.
In October last, the High Court had held Banerjee Commission as illegal. Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had, in September 2004, constituted the one-man Banerjee Committee to investigate the fire in S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express. The committee had been upgraded as a commission later.
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