In the podcast of Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of online trading platform Zerodha, PM Modi talked about the issue of America’s refusal to grant visas. He said the US authorities’ decision to deny him a visa was based on ‘lies’ spread by some people and this displeased him as it was an insult to the democratically elected government and the entire country.
Nikhil Kamath had asked PM Modi when did he suffer the most in his life? In response to this, PM Modi said, ‘You asked what was the most painful moment for me, then it was when America canceled my visa. As a private person, it was not important for me to visit America. But I was the Chief Minister, leading a democratically elected government and this (US denying visa) was an insult to the democratically elected government and the country. This bothered me. Some people had spread lies. But when I addressed a press conference, I had taken a resolution…I had said that I was imagining a day when people would stand in queues for Indian visas.
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Today is India’s time: PM Modi
PM Modi further said, ‘That was a difficult time in my life and I was shocked. Then a lot of things improved, but I always maintained my resolve. I said this in 2005… because I could clearly see that India’s time was coming. Today we stand in 2025. Now is India’s time. Today I feel happy when I go to other countries and see a different image of India in the minds of people. I see that they also want to come to India. We see business and other opportunities for ourselves in India. He said that I always work thinking about the future.
In the month of February 2002, hundreds of Kar Sevaks were returning from Ayodhya to Gujarat in the Sabarmati Express. When the train reached Godhra railway station on 27 February, its coach number S-6 was set on fire. In this incident, 59 kar sevaks were burnt to death. After this communal riots broke out in Gujarat. The US had refused visa to the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the basis of allegations that he did not make any effort to stop the communal riots. However, in the Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the 2002 Gujarat riots, Narendra Modi was acquitted of all charges. When he became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, America renewed his visa.
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PM Modi remembered Godhra incident
PM Modi also talked about the Sabarmati Express burning incident in Nikhil Kamath’s podcast. PM Modi said, ‘On 24 February 2002, I became an MLA for the first time and on 27 February I went to the Assembly. I was an MLA for three days when such an incident happened in Godhra. We first got the news of fire in the train, then gradually we started getting news of casualties. I was in the House and I was worried. As soon as I came out, I said that I want to go to Godhra. There was only one helicopter. I think it belonged to ONGC, but they said that since it is a single engine helicopter, they cannot allow any VIP in it. We argued and I said that I will be responsible for whatever happens. I will write it down and give it.
He further said, ‘I reached Godhra… It was a painful scene. There were dead bodies everywhere, but I knew I was in a position where I had to rise above my emotions. I did whatever I could to control myself. PM Modi said during the podcast that humans can make mistakes, but it should not happen intentionally. He said, ‘When I became CM, in one of my speeches I had said that I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts. Second, I will not do anything for myself. Third, I am a human being, I may make mistakes, but I will not make mistakes with bad intentions. I made them the mantra of my life. It is natural to make mistakes, after all I am also a human being, I am not God. But I will not do anything wrong intentionally.
