Judiciary, media best judges of 2002 riots: Modi

As far as the 2002 Gujarat riots were concerned, it is the judiciary, media and NGOs which should be left to draw conclusions, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said.

"I feel that on the subject of Gujarat riots, the judiciary has been vibrant and has exhibited its activism. The media too has been vibrant on the subject and the NGOs and international agencies have been overactive," Modi said in an interview to Times Now news channel telecast Thursday.

Modi, also the Gujarat chief minister, was replying to a question on whether members of the Sangh Parivar and the Bharatiya Janata Party were involved in the riots.

"After all this scrutiny, I feel, let them draw their own conclusions. They don't need a certificate from Modi. They shouldn't even bank on a certificate from Modi. They shouldn't have the slightest shred of belief in a certificate from Modi.

"Only constitutional authorities should be trusted. They have done so in the past, they will do it in the future as well," he said.

Questioned on Mayaben Kodnani, a minister in his cabinet, who was convicted for her role in the riots, Modi said: "She was not facing any charges at the time (of her induction). Later, when UPA-2 was formed, political games were at play. An SIT was formed, after which she faced charges.

"When I made her a minister, she was not facing any charges, for your information. But still, I feel she has the right to get justice for herself from many courts. As a citizen, she has that right. Let her have it," he said.

Asked whether he believed that Kodnani should have got state protection, Modi said: "That sort of work has been done a lot in Delhi after 1984. It is my view that the law must be allowed to take its course. The work of my government is neither to aid someone nor to torture someone."