Myth spread over Godhra, Gujarat saw 250 major riots before 2002: PM-OxBig News Network

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the 2002 Gujarat riots as a “humongous tragedy in which people were burnt alive” and said a myth was spread about the violence “being the biggest ever in the state that had seen worse before”.

“Those who say it (the 2002 Gujarat riots) was a very big riot, it was a myth that was spread. If you see the pre-2002 data, you will realise how many riots Gujarat has witnessed. Some place or the other was always under curfew. Communal violence would erupt over mundane issues like kite flying and bicycle collisions. Before 2002, Gujarat saw over 250 major riots and the 1969 riots had lasted six months,” the Prime Minister said, adding that since 2002, Gujarat has not seen any major riot.

These remarks by the PM came during a three-hour podcast with computer scientist Lex Fridman, who engaged him on varied subjects like his early life and RSS roots, geopolitics, India’s role as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden world, and his ties with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Modi opened up about Godhra and said major terror attacks had occurred at home and abroad in the months leading up to the February 27, 2002, attack on Sabarmati Express. The torching of the train coaches killed 59 kar sewaks returning from Ayodhya and the violence that followed killed many more.

Asked about the riots, Modi cited the December 24, 1999, hijacking of the Kathmandu-Delhi flight to Kandahar; the 2000 terror attack on Red Fort in Delhi; the September 11, 2001, terror attack on twin towers in the US; the October 2001 terror attack on J&K Vidhan Sabha and the December 13, 2001, terror attack on Parliament. “If you look at the global events 10 months ahead of 2002, you realise a flame was enough to ignite a fire,” the PM told Fridman.

Modi, who had assumed charge as Gujarat CM on October 7, 2001, said he was just three days old as an MLA when Godhra riots erupted.

“I had never been in government, never been an MLA, never contested elections and did not know what a government was… I was three days old as an MLA when the riots broke out. It was a humongous tragedy. People had been burnt alive. This happened in the background of previous terror attacks. In such a situation when so many people die, are burnt to death… you can imagine. Nothing should have happened. Peace is expected. But it (Godhra) became such a big sparking point that violence erupted,” said the PM.

He added that the courts examined the Gujarat riots case for long and gave him a clean chit.

“At that time our opponents were in power and wanted us punished but the judiciary examined the matter in detail twice and gave a clean chit,” the PM said, adding that Gujarat where riots were commonplace before 2002 had not witnessed any major incidents of violence after 2002.

“There is peace. We have not practised vote bank politics. We follow the policy of ‘Sabha Saath Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’ and have gone from the politics of appeasement to the politics of aspiration. We are now working for Viksit Bharat,” said Modi.

Praises RSS

Modi also praised the ruling BJP’s ideological mentor, widely believed to have powered the party’s wins in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi. “I was lucky to imbibe values, the purpose of life from a dedicated organisation like the RSS which shunned ostentation and devoted itself for 100 years to the service of the nation.” The PM, recalling his RSS roots, said the Sangh believed in “nation first and in the policy that serving people is serving God.”

Lauding RSS’ link organisations like Vidya Bharti, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Modi said: “Leftists urge workers of the world to unite (to wage struggles) while RSS organisation BMS urges workers to unite the world. That is the difference.” Noting that it was not easy to understand the RSS, the PM said he joined the shakha in Gujarat because he was drawn to the patriotic songs the RSS would play.

“The RSS is going to complete 100 years. I have not heard of any social organisation that can parallel the RSS in the world. It is not easy to understand the Sangh. One should try to understand its work first,” said Modi.

On criticism by rivals

“I welcome criticism but what is happening these days are accusations, not criticism because to criticise you have to research, prepare and study. People are resorting to shortcuts of allegations which help no one,” said Modi.