Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened up about the 2002 Godhra train burning incident and the subsequent riots in Gujarat. The discussion, which delved into Modi’s early political career and governance approach, also addressed the widespread criticism he faced in the aftermath of the violence. Modi highlighted how the tragedy unfolded just three days after he became an elected representative for the first time.
Modi emphasized the volatile atmosphere at the time, pointing out the global surge in terrorist activities, including the Kandahar hijacking in 1999, the Red Fort attack in 2000, and the 9/11 attacks in 2001. He described how these events contributed to a heightened sense of unrest and insecurity in India. On February 27, 2002, the Sabarmati Express carrying Hindu karsevaks was set on fire by a mob, resulting in the deaths of 59 people, including women and children.
This was followed by communal riots across the state of Gujarat, where hundreds were killed. In 2011, a special court convicted 31 people in connection with the Godhra train burning incident, after which the Gujarat High Court in 2014 upheld the conviction of 11 people while acquitting 20 others. Finally, the Supreme Court of India upheld the verdict given by Gujarat HC, dismissing the appeals filed by the convicts in connection with the Godhra train burning.
PM Modi asserted that the state had witnessed over 250 communal riots before 2002, with frequent curfews imposed due to unrest. He refuted claims that the violence of 2002 was the worst in Gujarat’s history, stating that previous incidents had been equally, if not more, devastating. The Prime Minister also criticized what he described as an orchestrated attempt to malign his image, insisting that his government was subjected to rigorous legal scrutiny.
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 his government’s policy of moving away from “vote-bank politics” in favor of an inclusive development agenda. “Our mantra has been: ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,’” he reiterated.
During the interview, Fridman also asked PM Modi about his response to critics, particularly regarding the 2002 riots. Modi expressed his openness to constructive criticism, saying, “Criticism is the soul of democracy. If democracy truly runs in your veins, you must embrace it.” However, he lamented that much of the criticism against him was not based on thorough research or factual analysis but was instead driven by political motives.