"As an individual I cannot
take the US head on"

India Today Group Editor Prabhu Chawla spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister with Narendra Modi on Seedi Baat on Aaj Tak. Excerprts from the exclusive interview:

Q. It is being alleged that you are an international embarrassment for India ...
A. I don't know who says that? But what I know is that the Indian Parliament and prime minister have voiced India's concern.

Q. But that was an emotional reaction. Some newspaper reports have asked the BJP to have a rethink on this matter.
A. Diplomacy does not depend on emotions. Indian diplomacy is quite matured and this was reflected in the prime minister's reservation over the US' decision.

Q. But the PMO later changed tack and attacked you. And finally you knelt down before the US.
A. I don't agree that as an individual I can take the US`head on.

Q. You did.
A. I still reiterate that I have tried to put facts and don't want to use this episode for personal gain.

Q. But don't you think a visa was denied to Narendra Modi as an individual. Where does the question of the country's honour come in?
A. Visa or no visa, it does not matter. India strongly protested the misbehaviour meted out to former president Fakhruddin Ali Ahamed abroad. An elected person represents the institution, not an individual. And the nation and Parliament have reacted in this spirit.

Q. The charge against you is that you are intolerant and have least respect for other religions. This US decision is not against the BJP but against you. This is your punishment.
A. It is the legacy of great Indian culture which teaches deep respect for other religions.

Q. Do you still justify the Gujarat riots?
A. I condemn both Godhra and the post-Godhra riots.

Q. Do you accept that the riots were a shameful episode?
A. I have been repeatedly emphasizing the point that these kinds of incidents (riots) are not acceptable in a civilized society.

Q. Don't you think that you should apologise for the Gujarat riots as was done by Sonia Gandhi for the anti-Sikh riots?
A. It's all a matter of semantics. I believe that I have tried to put things right in my own way.

Q. Does it mean that you have no regrets?
A. I have already spoken in the assembly on this matter.

Q. Don't you think you have become an international symbol of hate?
A. Let the critics speak about this. Why should I analyse myself?

Q. Being an elected representative you have been denied a visa. Isn't it against the reputation of a constitutional post? Don't you think you need a course correction?
A. There is no judicial system in the world where the claimant and the arbiter are the same. The issue is different. There are several five star activists who get foreign funds and vie for awards and have tarnished India's image for their own sake.

Q. Those responsible for the killings of around 3,000 people during the anti-Sikh riots have been welcomed by the US. On the other hand, you have been punished. Don't you think you are paying a price for your arrogant posture?
A. I do not compare myself with the perpetrators of the anti-Sikh riots. I belong to a group which is against violence.

Q. Both you and George W. Bush are branded as anti-Islamic. Isn't it ironical that Bush punished you for being so?
A. I am not against Islam. I am against Jehad and terrorism.

Q. Why you are being criticized despite leading a functional government. Your own MLAs are against you, even Keshu Bhai Patel is against you...
A. As far as I know, Keshu Bhai has never come against me publicly and I respect him.

Q. Are you arrogant?
A. No.

Q. You are a rank communalist?
A. I am a strong believer of Hindutva. Hindutva is not against anybody, it helps in integration.

Q. Aren't you exploiting Godhra for political gains?
A. The Akshardham incident took place after the Godhra riots where 40 Hindus were killed. But not a single stone was pelted. Why don't you highlight this aspect of Gujarat?

Q. You want to become India's prime minister on the plank of Hindutva?
A. Hindutva is a way of life according to the Supreme Court.

Q. Why don't you talk about the killing of 1,000 Muslims in the post-Godhra riots?
A. When I talk about five crore Gujaratis, it comprises all religious communities.

Q. Would you resign if your party demands it?
A. I have always obeyed the party directives and will do so in the future.

PICTURE SPEAK

WHAT'S THE GOOD WORD? Alter quizzes the celebs

MUMBAI A select gathering of Mumbai's glitterati and literati attended the Reader's Digest's Golden Jubilee celebrations in Mumbai last week. Hosted by the India Today Group (which owns the Reader's Digest brand), the evening had the likes of filmmaker Shyam Benegal, industrialist Anand Mahindra and writer Shobhaa De rubbing shoulders. Taking the analogy of wholesome food and junk food, Aroon Purie, editor-in-chief of the group, said, "Reader's Digest serves good, wholesome food and good, wholesome food never goes out of style."

The evening too was wholesome with programmes based on popular sections in the magazine. Stand-up comedian Vir Das' act covered everything from sex, man-woman relationships, health and humour, while the celebrity word power quiz hosted by Tom Alter had people like John Goodman of O&M, Rahul Singh, writer and former editor of Reader's Digest, singer Rabbi Shergill, comedian Ash Chandler, actor Suchitra Pillai and theatreperson Divya Palat allowing their vocabulary to be put to the test. Shergill came out an unexpected winner. In all, it was an evening to remember.

-By Geetika Sasan Bhandari

DELHI India finally rolled out a red carpet for visiting Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. His visit was aimed at mending fences as he had rubbed Delhi the wrong way. In the aftermath of the pro-democracy protests in Male led by former saarc secretary-general I.H. Zaki in August last year, Gayoom had expressed reservations about the role played by the Indian envoy and had asked for his recall. India had refused to oblige and the issue had almost sparked off a diplomatic row.

However, the tsunami tragedy erased the bitterness when India became the first nation to rush to the island nation with relief supplies and begin reconstruction efforts. And knowing well that both countries have strategic stakes in engaging each other, a climbdown was inevitable. Gayoom thanked India for its support and asked for the joint commission between the two countries to be revitalised while stressing his commitment to political reforms in his country. As they say, all's well that ends well.

-By Saurabh Shukla

Security Blues

PICTURE SPEAK

DON QUIXOTIC: Gawli

MUMBAI In his new avatar as a legislator, Arun Gawli is proving to be a headache for Maharashtra's Home Department. The former underworld don recently sought the state Assembly Speaker's intervention after the Mumbai Police turned down his request for a security cover.

A senior police officer says "the police force will be demoralised if asked to provide cover to Gawli".

For now, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R.R. Patil has assured the Speaker that Gawli would be provided security in the precincts of the state legislature. But the founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena is not taking things lying down. Gawli issued a list of 90 MLAs against whom various cases are pending. "If these legislators can get security, why can't I?" he asks. Is anyone listening?

-By Parikshit Joshi

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