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Modi walkout

Karan Thapar should be congratulated for exposing Narendra Modi, who got away after presiding over the Gujarat pogrom in 2002, claiming that he was given a mandate (Janata adesh) to govern after the riots. By walking out of the interview in the Devil’s Advocate programme — perhaps the first time by anyone — Mr. Modi proved that he is unable to face the truth.

P. Ramalingam,

A politician’s act of quitting a live interview is an indirect admission of guilt by him. As for Mr. Thapar, he should not have persisted with a controversial issue. The Gujarat riots took place five years ago and the cases are pending in courts. It is for the judiciary to deliver a verdict on them. All said, Mr. Modi should have faced Mr. Thapar boldly and answered his questions. The incident has shown how powerful the media are — they cannot be ignored by anyone irrespective of his or her status.

D. Narasa Raju,

It would have been better on Mr. Modi’s part not to have agreed for the interview. Once he decided to appear on the show, he should have stayed on till the end. Mr. Modi may not think much about maintaining his image. But the fact remains that it has taken a severe beating after the four-and-a-half minute interview, much to the discomfiture of the BJP cadres, at a time when the State is gearing up for elections.

Seshagiri Row Karry,

Mr. Modi’s replies in the interview which he abruptly ended clearly show that even after five years of the Gujarat riots, the ghost of Godhra haunts him. Else he would have taken pains to repair his image of a mass murderer and as one prejudiced against Muslims.

A. Jainulabdeen,

Mr. Modi could have put across his position forcefully instead of walking out of the interview. His action exposes his intolerance of divergent views. The state-sponsored Gujarat pogrom of 2002 will forever remain a black spot in the history of independent India. In fact, Mr. Thapar should have posed direct questions to him on the role of his government’s top officials during the riots. Mr. Modi may disagree but the fact remains that he is seen as an icon of hardcore and intolerant Hindutva.

P. Venkatesh,

It seems Mr. Modi is caught in his own web as elections are drawing close. The 2002 riots and the communal carnage aided by his administration must be haunting him as he has failed to assuage the feelings of the minorities as well as the right-thinking majority. His walkout from the interview after declaring that he has not spent a single day on his image cannot absolve him of the charges against him. Gujarat has bred many Frankensteins across the country and Mr. Modi is responsible for it.

N. Divakar,

Mr. Modi is far from apologetic about the communal riots which brought a bad name to the nation. It is strange that he does not think it is necessary to apologise for what happened in 2002. With an eye on the coming Assembly elections, Mr. Modi has ensured that his Hindutva vote bank remains intact and conveyed that he has no plans to woo the minority community. He may talk glowingly about his achievements but he will be remembered more for his failure to contain the riots rather than for any development activity.

D.B.N. Murthy,

It was improper on Mr. Thapar’s part to harp on the killings. The people of Gujarat have put the riots behind them, and are taking the State towards growth and prosperity, under Mr. Modi’s leadership. Let us look at the brighter side of life.

J.N. Mahanty,

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