New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a podcast with US computer scientist and host Lex Fridman, called the 2002 Godhra incident—in which 59 people were burned alive on a train—a “tragedy of unimaginable magnitude”.
However, he argued that the riots that followed were not the worst Gujarat had seen, noting that the state had a long history of communal violence before he became chief minister.
In the 3-hour conversation with Fridman released Sunday, the PM also said that a false narrative had been spread around the riots and despite the efforts of political opponents to blame his government, the courts had found them innocent.
“The perception that these were the biggest riots ever is actually misinformation. If you review the data from before 2002, you will see that Gujarat faced frequent riots. Curfews were constantly being imposed somewhere. Communal violence could erupt over trivial issues, like kite flying contests or even minor bicycle collisions,” Modi said.
“Before 2002, Gujarat witnessed over 250 significant riots. The riots in 1969 lasted nearly 6 months. So, there was a long history, long before I was in the picture,” he added.
The prime minister said the state had not witnessed a single major riot in the past 22 years. “But the most important thing is, in Gujarat, where riots used to happen some way or the other every year, after 2002, in 22 years, there hasn’t been a single major riot in Gujarat. Gujarat remains completely peaceful,” he said.
The prime minister also criticised what he described as an orchestrated attempt to malign his image over the riots after the burning of the Sabarmati Express—which left the 59 karsevaks returning from Ayodhya dead and triggered communal violence across the state—saying his government was subjected to rigorous legal scrutiny.
“But that one tragic incident in 2002 became a sparking point, leading some people towards violence. Yet, the judiciary thoroughly investigated the matter. At that time, our political opponents were in power, and naturally they wanted all allegations against us to stick,” Modi said.
“Despite their relentless efforts, the judiciary analysed the situation meticulously twice and ultimately found us completely innocent. Those who were truly responsible have faced justice from the courts,” he added.
Critics accused Modi of turning a blind eye to the 2002 riots that killed 1,000 people, mostly Muslims. He has consistently denied accusations that he did not do enough to stop the 2002 riots after the Godhra incident. He was exonerated in 2012 following an inquiry overseen by the Supreme Court.
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‘Volatile period’
Modi said the Godhra incident occurred just 3 days after he became an elected representative for the first time.
Recalling the Godhra incident that led to the 2002 riots, Modi said it was an “extremely volatile” time with major terrorist attacks in India and globally.
He recounted a series of crises that shook India and the world, from the 1999 Kandahar hijacking and the 2000 Red Fort attack to the 9/11 terror strikes in the US and the assault on India’s Parliament in December 2001.
“Take 24 December, 1999, roughly three years earlier, an Indian flight from Kathmandu to Delhi was hijacked, redirected to Afghanistan and landed in Kandahar. Hundreds of Indian passengers were held hostage. It caused massive turmoil across India as people faced life and death uncertainty,” Modi said.
“Then, in the year 2000, the Red Fort in Delhi was attacked by terrorists. Yet another crisis struck the nation, intensifying fear and turmoil. On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers in America faced a devastating terror attack, once again shocking the entire world. Then in October 2001, terrorists attacked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Soon after, on December 13, 2001, India’s Parliament was targeted,” he added.
“Within just 8 to 10 months, these major global terrorist attacks took place, violent incidents that led to bloodshed and the loss of innocent lives. In such a tense environment, even the smallest spark can ignite unrest. The situation had already become extremely volatile. In such times, suddenly, on October 7, 2001, I was given the responsibility of becoming chief minister of Gujarat. This was an enormous challenge.”
He said Gujarat was recovering from a devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and his first major task as chief minister was overseeing the rehabilitation of survivors.
“This was a crucial task, and from day one after my oath, I immersed myself in it. I was a person who had absolutely no prior experience with government. I had never been part of any administration, never even served in government before. I had never contested an election, never even been a state representative. For the first time in my life, I had to face elections,” he said.
“It had been just three days since I’d become a state representative when suddenly the horrific Godhra incident occurred. It was a tragedy of unimaginable magnitude, people were burned alive,” Modi said.
“You can imagine, against the backdrop of incidents like the Kandahar hijacking, the attack on Parliament, or even 9/11, and then to have so many people killed and burned alive, you can imagine how tense and volatile the situation was,” he added.
Highlighting Gujarat’s progress since 2002, Modi stated that the state had not witnessed a single major riot in the past 22 years. He credited this to his government’s policy of moving away from “vote-bank politics” in favour of an inclusive development agenda. “Our mantra has been: ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,’” he reiterated.
The prime minister emphasised that Gujarat has transformed from a past of communal tensions to becoming a model of economic growth and peaceful coexistence.
He underscored that his government had shifted from the “politics of appeasement to the politics of aspiration”, ensuring that people from all communities contributed to the state’s development.
In the interview, the prime minister said he welcomed criticism but there was a clear distinction between genuine criticism and an agenda-driven campaign.
“There’s a big difference between allegations and criticism,” he said. “For a strong democracy, genuine criticism is necessary. Allegations benefit no one, they just cause unnecessary conflicts. That’s why I always welcome criticism openly. And whenever false accusations arise, I calmly continue serving my country with complete dedication.
“I have a strong belief that criticism is the soul of democracy. If democracy truly runs in your veins, you must embrace it…. In fact, I believe we should have more criticism and it should be sharp and well-informed,” he added.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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