Modi abruptly ends TV interview after being quizzed on riots
Saturday, 20 October 2007
New Delhi, October 20: Gujarat State Chief Minister (state governer) Narendra Modi cut short a television interview in a huff after he was asked questions repeatedly on the 2002 post-Godhra riots, for which he has often been blamed by his critics.
Modi terminated the interview to CNN-INDIA's Devil's Advocate programme midway when questioner Karan Thapar sought to know whether he regretted the Gujarat riots and talked about his image as an anti-Muslim.
He first asked for water, removed the mike from his shirt and told Thapar that he had enjoyed three-four questions from him and he cannot continue the interview.
"The friendship should continue. I will be happy. You came here. I am happy and thankful to you. These are your ideas, you go on expressing these. I can't do this interview.
Three-four questions I have already enjoyed. No more please," he said, abruptly ending the interview.
Earlier, when asked why he was not admitting that his government should have done more to protect Muslims, Modi merely said "what I had to say I have said at that time and you can find out my statements".
The Siasat Daily, 2004.
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