'Would Like To Paint A Clearer Picture’: PM Narendra Modi Shares Untold Events Leading To 2002 Gujarat Riots

New Delhi: In a candid conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 2002 Gujarat riots, shedding light on the events leading up to the tragedy and its aftermath. PM Modi's remarks offer a nuanced understanding of the complex circumstances surrounding the riots, which resulted in the loss of over 1000 lives. Prime Minister Modi also praised Lex Fridman's approach to journalism, saying, that he put in tremendous care and did extensive research into small details before starting the conversation with him. 

PM Modi then began by painting a picture of the tense atmosphere in the 12-15 months leading up to the riots. He cited several incidents, including the hijacking of an Indian flight from Kathmandu to Delhi in December 1999, the terrorist attack on the Red Fort in Delhi in 2000, and the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001. These events, the prime minister explained, created an environment in which “even the smallest spark can ignite unrest”. PM Modi then delved into the events leading up to the 2002 Gujarat riots. 

The discussion on Gujarat riots started after Lex Fridman asked direct questions on the unfortunate incident of Godhra leading to the massive violence in the state in 2002. “You have been through your career and through your life. You have seen a lot of difficult situations in the history of India, one of them, the 2002 Gujarat riots. They are one of the most challenging periods of modern Indian history when there was violence between Hindu and Muslim citizens of Gujarat that led to over one thousand deaths," Lex Fridman said.

Responding to Lex's question, PM Modi explained, "Regarding the earlier events that you mentioned, like the 2002 riots in Gujarat, I'd like to paint you a clearer picture of the 12 to 15 months leading up to that, so you can fully understand, uh, the atmosphere of that time. For instance, take December 24, 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."

Challenges As New Chief Minister

The prime minister stated that, in October 2001, he was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat, a state still reeling from the deadly earthquake that had claimed thousands of lives in Kutch. With no prior experience in government, PM Modi's first major task was overseeing the rehabilitation of survivors. He stated that just three days after becoming a State Representative in the Gujarat Assembly, he faced the horrific Godhra incident, in which people were burned alive.

"In October 2001, I was given the responsibility of becoming Chief Minister of Gujarat. This was an enormous challenge. At that time, Gujarat was recovering from a devastating earthquake, the largest of the previous century, which had left thousands dead. My first major task as Chief Minister was overseeing the rehabilitation of survivors. Just three days after becoming a State Representative, I faced the horrific Godhra incident, in which people were burned alive," PM Modi said.

What PM Modi Said On Gujarat Riots

Prime Minister Narendra Modi answered, "Regarding the earlier events that you mentioned, like the 2002 riots in Gujarat, I'd like to paint you a clearer picture of the 12 to 15 months leading up to that, so you can fully understand the atmosphere of that time.” 

“For instance, take December 24, 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. 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. Because ultimately, the people behind these attacks are driven by a similar mindset. Then, in October 2001, terrorists attacked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Soon after, on December 13, 2001, India’s Parliament was targeted,” the PM recounted. 

“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. At that time, Gujarat was recovering from a devastating earthquake, the largest of the previous century, which had left thousands dead,” the prime minister explained the situation before the riots. 

“My 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 the 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. On February 24, 2002, I became a State Representative, an elected representative, for the first time. And it was only around February 24th, 25th, or 26th that I stepped into the Gujarat Assembly for the very first time,” he stated.
“On February 27, 2002, we were seated in the assembly for the budget session, and that same day, 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. 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. Of course, this was tragic for everyone, everyone prefers peace. The perception that these were the biggest riots ever is actually misinformation. If you review the data from before 2002, you'll 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. Before 2002, Gujarat witnessed over 250 significant riots. The riots in 1969 lasted nearly six months,” PM Modi described the situation and tried to connect the dots leading to the riots.

He further stated, “So there was a long history long before I was in the picture. 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. Despite their relentless efforts, the judiciary analyzed the situation meticulously, twice, and ultimately, found us completely innocent. Those who were truly responsible have faced justice from the courts. But the most important thing is, in Gujarat, where riots used to happen somewhere or the other every year. But after 2002, in 22 years, there hasn’t been a single major riot in Gujarat. Gujarat remains completely peaceful. Our approach has always been to avoid vote-bank politics. Instead, our mantra has been: "Together with everyone, development for all, trust from all, and efforts by everyone." 

He said that his government shifted from the politics of appeasement to the politics of aspiration.

"Yet, the perception that these were the biggest riots ever is actually misinformation. If you review the data from before 2002, you'll 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. Before 2002, Gujarat witnessed over 250 significant riots. The riots in 1969 lasted nearly six months. So there was a long history long before I was in the picture," PM Modi further added. 

Call For Positive Criticism

When asked about his relationship with criticism, PM Modi welcomed it, saying, "Criticism is the soul of democracy. If democracy truly runs in your veins, you must embrace it." He lamented the lack of genuine criticism, which requires "thorough study, in-depth research, and careful analysis."

PM Modi drew an analogy between two types of journalism: one that spreads dirt and misinformation, like a fly, and another that collects nectar and shares sweetness, like a bee. He asserted the need for journalism that is "clear, well-directed, and specific," and that genuinely helps in the process of effective policy-making.