Modi trying to influence judiciary: Arjun Modhwadia

Commenting on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's latest statement about his complicity in Gujarat riots 2002, Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia on Thursday said the former is trying to influence the judiciary.

Narendra Modi in an interview with an Urdu Weekly said, 'Main gunehgaar hoon toh mujhe phaansi par latkaa do (Hang me if I am guilty)', which has shocked to many.

Commenting on this, Arhun said, "He (Modi) is trying to influence the judiciary. Whatever he wants to say, he should say in court. Saying like this, in the media, means nothing," he said.

"Instead of giving interviews and challenging the country. He should give these statements to the judiciary and the court in which cases are running against him," he added.

"Even today, in many cases, his name has come up. Even his own party, the BJP, believes that he has made a mistake. So, such type of the utterances is not acceptable," Modhwadia said.

This interview was conducted by Shahid Siddiqui, Editor-in-Chief of a six-page Urdu Weekly 'Nai Duniya', who is also a former MP from Samajwadi Party.

The interview is believed to be significant as Modi chose to talk about post-Godhra violence to an Urdu weekly.

Earlier, Modi used to walk out of television talk shows when prodded to give his views on the riots.

In an interview for the cover story, Narendra Modi over asking the question of apology to the nation and Muslim community said, 'There is no question of apologizing because if I have committed this crime, then I should not be forgiven, I should be hanged. And I should be hanged in such a way that people should learn a lesson for 100 years that nothing like this should happen'.

But, 'If I have not committed the crime, then the nation and the media especially should seek my forgiveness'," added Modi.

In the cover page story, Siddiqui writes that the decision to interview Modi came after a lunch meeting in Mumbai with two Bollywood celebrities' filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and celebrated script writer Salim Khan.

Siddiqui said he was not satisfied with Modi's reply. He said that Modi tried to remove the bloody stain of the Godhra riots by giving the interview.

So far, no evidence has been found against Narendra Modi in any case of Gujarat riots that have been trialed in the court.

--With ANI Inputs--