There's threat to life, but it's not going to stop me: Bhatt

Bhatt, who claims he is being targeted by the BJP government in Gujarat, said the 2002 Godhra riots was one of the best documented in history.

"I know I have threat to my life, but it is not going to stop me. It is government's responsibility to safeguard life of every citizen of the country," he told reporters here on the sidelines of a conference on human rights.

Bhatt was arrested on charges of forcing his subordinate, K D Pant, to file a false affidavit against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, implicating him in the 2002 riots. Averting a question on why he remained silent for so long as the Gujarat riots took place in 2002, Bhatt said he had already answered it several times.

On how Modi came back to power with a thumping majority despite the riots, Bhatt said, "People get the government they deserve. Gujarat has been laboratory of hatred politics."

Drawing similarity between 1984 anti-Sikh riots and 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhatt also made it clear that his raising of voice was not motivated against a particular political unit and he is of the view that any targetted violence, be it communal or be it sectarian, should be stopped.

When asked how difficult it becomes for a civil servant to work honestly if the government itself has vested interest, Bhatt said, "A civil servant is obliged by law. He just need not to do anything which is against the law. He may have to pay a price for that, but he can do his duty by sticking to basic constitutional principals."

He, however, was of the view that Gujarat Police were not communalised during the post-Godhra carnage in the state. "No it (Gujarat Police) is not communalised. We really have a good force," he said.

Noting that the proposed communal violence bill can be of great help in tackling such cases, Bhatt said that one man single-handedly cannot tackle the situation and somewhere down the line, he needs a constitutional backing.

"Our judicial system is very well structured. It may be a bit time taking but it works. We need to trust it," he said. He said ultimately it is the common man who bears the burnt as most of the communal violences are politically motivated.

"Public never wants riot. Ultimately, it is the poor Hindu or the poor Muslim who gets perished," Bhatt said.