Rajdeep Sardesai has often said that the Narendra Modi led Gujarat government was responsible for the 2002 riots in the state. However, in an interview, he takes a U-turn and says that Modi isn’t responsible for it.
In an interview with journalist Manu Joseph in 2019, Rajdeep Sardesai cleared his stance on the 2002 riots which he covered on the ground. When Manu Joseph asked him if the then Chief Minister was in any way responsible for the massacre in 2002, Rajdeep said,
“It is unfair of us to say that Mr. Modi or anyone was responsible for the riots. He did not ask or incite violence.”
Even though he said that Narendra Modi isn’t completely responsible for the incident, he said that both the government and the Chief Minister are complacent in not trying to stop the riots. He also said that while Modi came to power in 2002, it was the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Thogadia who was running the state. Modi was not as powerful as people make out to be, he said.
Even as Sardesai regretted the horrific incident, he maintained that Modi and the BJP had gained political capital through the riots. He also said that the media sensationalized the issue. He batted for self-censorship when dealing with reportage of a sensitive issue.
Rajdeep Had Continued To Hold Modi Accountable
For long Rajdeep has been saying that the Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party have blood in their hands just like how Congress had when it comes to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. In the 2009 election campaign, Rajdeep tweeted,
“Don’t feel like debating 84 or 2002. The cong will rake up Gujarat, the bjp delhi. The fact is both parties have blood on their hands.”
dont feel like debating 84 or 2002. the cong will rake up gujarat, the bjp delhi. the fact is both parties have blood on their hands.
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) November 1, 2009
In 2018 too, Rajdeep said,
“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress must accept (as Dr. MMS rightly did) that 1984 is a terrible blot on Congress as 1992 post-Ayodhya riots and 2002 Gujarat are on BJP. Readout great spiritual leaders: the first step towards redemption is ‘Shama’ or forgiveness by accepting the truth, apologize.”
Rahul Gandhi and the Cong must accept (as Dr MMS rightly did) that 1984 is a terrible blot on Cong as 1992 post ayodhya riots and 2002 Gujarat are on BJP. Read our great spiritual leaders: first step towards redemption is ‘Shama’ or forgiveness by accepting the truth,apologise.
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 25, 2018
