Goa, March 17 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that there have been deliberate attempts to portray the 2002 riots as the most significant in Gujarat's history. He emphasized that the state has experienced a longstanding history of violence "long before I was involved." Furthermore, he highlighted that while riots occurred almost annually in Gujarat, there has been a notable absence of communal violence since 2002.

Upon examining the data prior to 2002, it becomes evident that Gujarat experienced a series of frequent riots, with curfews being regularly enforced in various locations. Communal violence often erupted over minor disputes, such as kite flying competitions or even minor bicycle accidents, he stated.

PM Modi, who served a...