On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the film The Sabarmati Report, which focuses on the events leading to the Godhra train tragedy in 2002. He commended the film for "revealing the truth" behind the incident and stated that a "fake narrative can only last for a limited time."
"It’s good that the truth is coming out in a way that ordinary people can see," PM Modi said while praising the film, which stars Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, and Ridhi Dogra.
PM Modi made these comments in response to an X user's review of the film. The user described the movie as a must-watch and praised the filmmakers for handling the sensitive topic with care.
The 2002 Godhra tragedy, in which 59 people, including women and children, lost their lives, is the central focus of the film.
Directed by Dheeraj Sarna, The Sabarmati Report was released on November 15 and explores the 2002 tragedy, which triggered riots in Gujarat. The X user also noted that the incident was politicized by some groups, who used it to "tarnish the image of one leader."
The Godhra Train Tragedy:
On the morning of February 27, 2002, the Sabarmati Express arrived at Godhra railway station in Gujarat. The train, which was traveling from Muzaffarpur in Bihar to Ahmedabad, carried hundreds of passengers, including many karsevaks—Hindu volunteers returning from a religious event in Ayodhya.
As the train left Godhra, the driver reported multiple emergency chain pulls, which caused the train to stop near the station's outer signal. A mob of around 2,000 people then attacked the train, throwing stones and setting four coaches on fire.
The S-6 coach was the most affected, with the fire claiming the lives of 59 people, including 27 women and 10 children. Another 48 passengers were injured.
The tragedy sparked communal riots across Gujarat beginning on February 28, 2002. While the state government claimed to have contained the violence within three days, clashes continued for weeks, lasting for up to three months.
A Supreme Court-appointed investigation later found no evidence of wrongdoing by PM Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time.
The Godhra train fire and the resulting riots remain a significant and controversial chapter in India’s recent history.
Follow us
