Questioning Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the post-Godhra scenario, Goa chief minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar said, “It should not have happened. The administration should have clamped down on any violence. (If I were in his place) I would have ensured (that) but Modi was new to the job as chief minister.”
He claimed that the riots were a product of administrative failure.
Mr Parrikar, considered close to Mr Modi, felt that “ if he (Modi) is guilty by connivance he should be punished, but investigations have given him a clean chit. People who oppose him do so because they fear him.” At the same time the Goa chief minister maintained that for 2002 massacre, Mr Modi need not apologise. “What happened then was unfortunate, but that does not require his apology. It requires his correction and he has done that.”
Coming in support of Mr Modi, he also said that “young people see an alternative model in Modi, and if they want him as Prime Minister they will have to elect his local representative. Also, a substantial number of businessmen are likely to back the BJP this time, and they will also go for Modi.”
On the other hand if the a section of leaders and RSS were clamouring to project Mr Modi as the PM candidate, the man himself tried to play this down. While saying that he has “no such dreams” and “want to serve people of Gujarat till 2017”, Mr Modi added: “Those who dream of becoming something end up destroying themselves. One should not dream of becoming something, but one should dream of doing something.”
While confusion and tussle of over Mr Modi’s leadership continued to rage rumours flew thick and fast in the saffron corridor that “its not only Congress but some aides and relatives of a few senior BJP leaders are also behind the Vanzara letter.” It was being claimed that this particular section “is working covertly to stem Modi’s rise.”