New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) The Congress Monday said the Supreme Court had not given a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on a petition filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the 2002 riots, adding the matter had been referred to the lower court.


“Clean chit has not been given (to Narendra Modi). The case has been given to lower court,” said Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi.

He said there was a need to wait for the verdict of the trial court and ultimately justice would be done.

"It will be difficult to wipe off the blot on Narendra Modi. His character is known to the entire country. He was unable to the curb communal violence in Gujarat," Alvi said.

He said Modi could not wash off “stain” of the 2002 riots.

Alvi was speaking to reporters on the Supreme Court directing the trial court to hear the petition by Zakia Jafri, whose husband was killed in the Gulberg Society carnage during the 2002 riots, against Modi.

The petition alleged deliberate inaction on part of Modi, his cabinet colleagues and some high-ranking state officials.

The court said the magistrate, before deciding on the complaint by Zakia Jafri, will issue her a notice and afford her an opportunity to be heard.

In the 2002 incident, 37 people, including former Congress MP Jafri, were killed. The rampaging mob targeted members of the Muslim community in the Ahmedabad neighbourhood and set it afire.