The row over the letters purportedly signed by 64 Indian Members of Parliament against revoking the US visa ban on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has taken a new twist.
Just days after a number of MPs claimed they had not signed the letters sent to US President Barack Obama, a forensic report has concluded that the letters were pretty much straightforward affairs.
Compiled by California-based forensic document examiner Nanette M Barto, the study was commissioned by the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella outfit of US-based organisations campaigning on issues relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Express is in possession of copies of the reports filed by the forensic examiner.
“Using accepted principles and methods of forensic examination, it is my opinion that the Q1 - Q3 document was created in a single event, and that the signatures found upon it are original/authentic wet ink signatures,” said Barto in her report on the letter purportedly signed by Rajya Sabha MPs.
She expressed a similar opinion on the other letter, purportedly signed by Lok Sabha MPs. Barto also said an examination of the signatures suggested no signs of forgery.
According to her the font, leading, and kerning were consistent between each page, indicating that the documents were created all at one time. Barto also observed that examination for halo effects, pixel distortion, breaks in borders or baselines also revealed no evidence of alteration by either a cut-and-paste job or any form of computer alteration.
A point to be noted is that Barto had examined digital copies of the letters sent to Obama, as the originals were unavailable. Further, she has notarised both her reports.
A statement from the Coalition Against Genocide called for a return to serious discussion on the letters in light of the forensic reports, saying, “The fact that nine Members of Parliament were unable to summon the courage to stand by their own signatures under heavy party pressure should not become an excuse for doubting the veracity of the letter.” The statement also dismissed the allegations of forgery as frivolous and alleged that they were aimed at distracting from discussion of the letters’ contents.