Charred Sabarmati express in 2002 triggered the worst communal riots: archival, in Ayodhya

From the archive record

The engines of the Indian politics was taking a turn as Bharatiya Janata Party's vote count began rising from 2 seats to 89 seats and then from 122 seats reached 180 seats. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were hoping that once BJP is in power the way to Ram Mandir will be clear. But the conflict remained as it is. In February 2002, BSP declared the dates for the contruction of Ram Mandir. On 27th February 2002 sabarmati express had just started off from the Godhra station in Gujarat but was stopped before it could get too far. The train which stopped at the Muslim basti near the station was set on fire and 59 passengers travelling in that coach were charred to death. Fifty-nine kar sevaks were killed after a coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze in February 2002, triggering o