Kerala Chief Minister pays tribute to Zakia Jafri, face of Gujarat riots legal battle

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has paid tributes to Zakia Jafri, who passed away  on Saturday, February 1 after waging a two-decade-long legal battle seeking justice for the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots. She was the wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was among the 69 people killed in the Gulberg Society massacre during the riots.

Pinarayi Vijayan said that the 86-year-old’s relentless fight leaves behind a legacy of courage and resilience. “Zakia Jafri, an unwavering voice for the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, is no more. The widow of former MP Ehsan Jafri, who was brutally murdered by a Sangh Parivar-led mob, she dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice. Her relentless fight leaves behind a legacy of courage and resilience. Her memory will continue to inspire us in our fight against communalism and divisive forces,” he wrote on X.

Zakia, who died of age-related illness had pursued legal action against high-ranking state officials, including the then Gujarat Chief Minister and current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, alleging a larger conspiracy behind the communal violence. Her legal journey, which began at the local courts, reached the Supreme Court as she challenged the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) clean chit to 63 persons.

Congress leader Pawan Khera wrote, “Zakia Jafri died today. Her hope for justice had died in her lifetime. She chronicled the history of ‘New India’ through her tears, her sobs, her fight and her defeat.”