Patna: Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Sep 5, 2004) said the probe panel set up by the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government at the Centre to probe the Godhra fire had specific terms of reference to ascertain the cause of fire in the Sabarmati Express in which 58 kar sevaks were killed and did not overlap the Nanavati Commission which is probing the Godhra incident.

"The probe panel set up under retired Supreme Court judge U C Banerjee has eight-point terms of reference which will ascertain the cause of fire in the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express on that fateful day in 2002," Prasad told reporters in Patna. Defending the setting up of the U C Banerjee Commission, he said neither the Railway Safety Commissioner nor any agency of the Railways had probed the cause of the fire in the train and the person or group responsible for the fire. "This necessitated a detailed probe which is mandatory under the Railway Act."

Certain questions like presence of a large number of people in the S-6 coach other than those having reserved tickets and throwing petrol or any other inflammable materials from outside when the windows and doors of the coach were closed raise doubts. "That is why an impartial probe has been ordered to know the truth," he said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the proceedings of the Nanavati Commission, Prasad said Railways will appoint a lawyer to keep a watch over its proceedings.

The Railway Minister said after receiving the report of the U C Banerjee probe panel, expected in three months time, railway officials and others found guilty in the Godhra fire would be punished.

Reacting to the criticism by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) over the UPA Government setting up the probe, Prasad said, "They (BJP and RSS) are afraid that the truth behind the incident will come out and their misdeeds to cover up the incident will be known to the world. This explains their anxiety over the inquiry commission.

"These communal parties and groups can go to any extent to get power. Their outcry over the probe committee reveals they are scared to face the truths behind the incident," he added.