PM Modi reflects on pre-2002 riots, says Kandahar Hijacking, Red Fort Attack, 9/11 set stage for Godhra tragedy

In a candid conversation with renowned AI researcher Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revisited the tumultuous period of the 2002 Gujarat riots, highlighting the volatile global context that preceded the tragic events. Modi noted that the Godhra train burning incident, which sparked the riots, occurred amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions following several major terrorist attacks, including the Kandahar hijacking in 1999, the Red Fort attack in 2000, and the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001.

What Were the 2002 Gujarat Riots?

The 2002 Gujarat riots were a pivotal moment in India’s history, marked by intense communal violence between Hindus and Muslims.

The Godhra riots began on February 27, 2002, after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was set ablaze in Godhra, killing 59 people.

This incident triggered widespread violence across Gujarat, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, with official figures indicating 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus among the dead.

The violence was characterized by its brutality, with reports of arson, mass murder, and rape, leaving thousands displaced and causing significant economic damage.

What Did Narendra Modi Say About the 2002 Gujarat Riots?

PM Modi reflected on the riots, emphasising that Gujarat had experienced over 250 communal clashes before 2002, with frequent curfews imposed due to unrest. Modi also refuted claims that the 2002 riots were unprecedented, pointing to previous incidents that were equally devastating.

’12 to 15 months leading’ to Godhra Riots’

PM Modi highlighted terrorist attacks in India that preceded Godhra Riots. This is what he said:

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 11th, 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 13th, 2001, India’s parliament was targeted.

‘Gujarat Was reeling From Earthquake When I became CM’

The situation had already become extremely volatile. In such times, suddenly, on October 7th, 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. 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.

‘Just three days since I’d become CM, Godhra Riots Began’

On February 27th, 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 Chief Minister, 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.

‘Godhra Riots is Biggest Ever is Actually Misinformation’

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. 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.

But that one tragic incident in 2002 became a sparking point, leading some people towards violence.