Wednesday, February 23 2005 15:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Vithal Pandya, father of slain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Haren Pandya, today (Feb 23, 2005) told the Godhra inquiry Commission that it was his son, who had appeared before another commission in 2002, and had made statements against the functioning of the Narendra Modi Government.

Pandya, who was summoned for cross-examination by the State Government counsel before the Nanavati-Shah Commission, replied in positive when asked if Haren Pandya was the State Minister who had given a statement before the other Commission.

Pandya, however, could not give details of what Haren had stated before the Commission but said that it was about the style of functioning of the Modi Government.

He could not remember the name of the Commission but recalled it when told that it was the 'Citizens Tribunal' and was headed by Justice Krishna Iyer.

Pandya, who was first cross-examined by advocate Tempton Nanavati, admitted that both he and Haren had ideological differences with Modi over his style of functioning but denied that they were due to denial of ticket to Haren for the elections by Modi.

To a question if he or Haren had a 'grudge' against Modi for taking away the Home portfolio and giving him the Finance portfolio after he took over as Gujarat Chief Minister from Keshubhai Patel, Vithalbhai said that his son was not power hungry and only wanted to serve the people.