In a candid interview with US computer scientist and podcast host Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the 2002 Sabarmati Express attack in Godhra a “tragedy of unimaginable magnitude.” He defined the subsequent riots as a “tragic” event for all parties concerned, stressing lessons learned from those tumultuous times.
In the lengthy three-hour debate, Modi countered popular assumptions about the 2002 riots, declaring that they were not the most violent communal violence in the history of Gujarat. He added that the state had not seen another riot since then, pointing out a major turnaround in communal relationships.
The Prime Minister condemned the propagation of a “false narrative” with regards to the Godhra, highlighting that before 2002, Gujarat had suffered more than 250 riots in the backdrop of growing terrorism and violence. He underscored that the situation had come to a boiling point, when even small provocations could ignite disturbance.
Modi also spoke of his experiences as Chief Minister of Gujarat, coming to power immediately after the Bhuj earthquake. He cited his inexperience in politics, stating that he had no previous political experience before becoming Chief Minister. Barely days after his election, the gruesome events of February 27, 2002, happened.
“This was a tragedy of unimaginable scale; people were burnt alive,” Modi said, setting the Godhra incident against the background of earlier terrorist strikes such as the Kandahar hijacking and the 9/11 attacks in the United States. He conceded the tension-filled situation, insisting that all people want peace and stability.
Modi referred to the centuries-old history of communal tensions in Gujarat, contending that the 2002 event became a trigger for violence. He asserted that the judiciary had carried out detailed investigations into the riots and eventually cleared him and his government of any wrongdoing. “In spite of the persistent efforts of our political rivals, the judiciary declared us absolutely innocent,” he said.
He disputed the notion that the 2002 riots were the biggest in Gujarat’s history, contending that before this incident, communal riots had been regular, frequently sparked by trivial issues. “The 1969 riots lasted almost six months, and curfews were imposed on a regular basis,” he said.
Since 2002, nonetheless, Gujarat has experienced a noted lack of communal violence, owing to a change in governance ethos. Modi identified the policy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” which prioritizes development as opposed to appeasement, as a vital reason for the change.
