Maya Kodnani
| Maya Kodnani | |
|---|---|
| MLA of Gujarat Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2007–2012 | |
| Constituency | Naroda |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Bhartiya Janata Party |
| Maya Kodnani | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Politician, Gynecologist |
Criminal charge | Conspiracy, murder and rioting in the Naroda Patiya massacre |
Criminal penalty | 28 years in prison |
Maya Kodnani was a Member of Legislative assembly from Naroda constituency in Gujarat for its 12th legislative assembly[1][2] and a former Minister for Women and Child Development of Gujarat.[2][2][3][4] She is the first female and first MLA to be convicted in a post-Godhra riots case.[5]
Early life
Kodnani had her early education in a Gujarati-medium school school in Deesa of Banaskantha district. The school was set up and run by her father who had settled down in the town after fleeing in 1947 from the Tharparkar area of Sindh province, now in Pakistan.
Kodnani joined the Baroda Medical College from where she did her MBBS and Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. She set up Shivam Maternity Hospital at Kubernagar in Naroda.[6]
Political career
Kodnani elected for three times from Naroda constituency as Member of Legislative Assembly.[2] After winning the elections in 2007, she was named as Minister for Women and Child Development of Gujarat,[2] but resigned from the post in 2009.[3]
Role in the 2002 Gujarat riots
Kodnani was convicted of orchestrating the massacre of 95 people during the Naroda Gam and Naroda Patia riots that followed the Godhra train burning in February 2002.[2][3] Witnesses testified that she handed out swords to Hindu rioters, exhorted them to attack Muslims and at one point fired a pistol,[7] and, according to testimony in the court, mobile phone records indicated that she was present at the scene of the riots. She was tried and, on August 31, 2012, convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder by a court in Ahmedabad and was sentenced to 28 years in prison.[7][8] On 17 April 2013, the Gujarat government decided to seek death penalty for Maya Kodnani by filing an appeal in the High Court against the Special Court’s judgement in the case.[9] On May 14, 2013, the Gujarat government subsequently withdrew its decision to seek the death penalty for Maya Kodnani.[10]
Personal life
Kodnani is an ethnic Sindhi Hindu, whose family migrated from Pakistan to India during partition. She is a gynaecologist by profession. She is married to general physician, Surendra Kodnani.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ "TWELFTH GUJARAT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY". Gujarat assembly http://www.gujaratassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "For Maya Kodnani, riots memories turn her smile into gloom". DNA India. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Maya gets bail". India Today. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ↑ "Maya Kodnani led mob to carry out Naroda riot: Gujarat govt to HC". Economic times of India. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ↑ "Naroda Patiya riots: Former minister Maya Kodnani gets 28 years in jail". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ↑ Express News Service. "The rise and fall of Maya Kodnani". Express India. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Indian nationalist MP gets 28 years for 2002 massacre". Reuters. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ Manas Dasgupta (2012-08-31). "News / National : 28 years for Kodnani, Bajrangi to spend entire life in prison". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ↑ "Gujarat government to seek death penalty for Kodnani, Bajrangi". The Hindu. April 17, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
- ↑ Narendra Modi's U-turn on Maya Kodnani; seeks advocate general's opinion on death penalty - Times Of India
- ↑ Naroda Patiya massacre: Who is Maya Kodnani? - Yahoo! News India