Modi Defends Handling of 2002 Gujarat Riots, Talks Pakistan, and RSS in Lex Fridman Podcast

New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended his handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots, calling the narrative around the incident a “false campaign” driven by political opponents. Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast, Modi said attempts to hold him responsible for the violence were politically motivated, but the courts had thoroughly investigated the matter and cleared his name.

On 2002 Gujarat Riots
Modi dismissed the perception that the 2002 riots were Gujarat’s worst, pointing out that communal violence had been common in the state for decades. “Before 2002, Gujarat faced frequent riots over trivial issues like kite-flying contests or bicycle collisions,” he said. He highlighted the 1969 riots, which lasted for over six months, as an example of the state’s troubled history with communal violence.
Modi recalled that the Godhra train burning occurred just three days after he was elected as a Gujarat legislator. “It was a tragedy of unimaginable scale. People were burned alive. The situation was tense and volatile,” he said. Modi claimed that political opponents at the Centre tried to frame him, but the courts ultimately found him innocent.
“Our political rivals wanted to see us punished. Despite their efforts, the judiciary examined the case twice and found us completely innocent,” he said. He also noted that Gujarat has not seen a single major riot in the past 22 years.

On the RSS and Its Influence
Modi credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with shaping his values and giving his life purpose. “I feel blessed to have learned life’s values from such a sacred organization,” he said, praising the RSS for inspiring people to serve the country selflessly since its founding in 1925.
A former RSS pracharak, Modi said he was drawn to the organization at a young age after being touched by patriotic songs sung at a local shakha in Gujarat. “The RSS philosophy teaches that the country is supreme and serving people is like serving God,” he said.
He highlighted the work of RSS affiliates like Seva Bharti, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, and Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh in fields like education and labor rights. “Vidya Bharti runs nearly 25,000 schools where millions of students have received education at an affordable cost,” he said.

On Relations with Pakistan
Modi expressed frustration over Pakistan’s response to India’s peace overtures, saying that every goodwill gesture was met with “hostility and betrayal.” He recalled inviting then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony in 2014 as a gesture of peace.
“This was a diplomatic gesture unlike any in decades. It sent a clear message about India’s commitment to peace and harmony, but we didn’t get the desired outcome,” he said.
Modi said he believed the people of Pakistan also long for peace but are trapped in a cycle of unrest and terrorism. “We hope wisdom prevails on their leadership and they choose the path of peace,” he said.