Narendra Modi and the Tehelka Expose -Amrita Rajan

Last week, Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi was unusually reticent when quizzed by Karan Thapar about the riots that broke out in his state in 2002. He asked for a glass of water, mumbled something about wanting to remain friends and promptly walked off The Devil's Advocate, Thapar's show on CNN IBN.

A puzzled Mr. Thapar, who reportedly spent an hour trying in vain to convince his suddenly recalcitrant subject to return to the table, commented that he must have touched a raw nerve somewhere because he didn't understand this reaction. Not only did Mr. Modi's usually react to such questions with brash defiance, but the interview was going to be far from a one-topic smash job.

Then this week, Tehelka, an investigative online newspaper set up by Tarun Tejpal whose previous expose of corruption in the ranks of the NDA became the foundation of the sting operation culture you'll currently find presiding over Indian news channels, came out with the explosive results of a long running investigation. Caught on camera were several members of the Sangh Parivar in Gujarat (RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and BJP) openly discussing their heinous acts in 2002 and identifying Mr. Modi as their godfather.

I wonder if this is what precipitated his departure from Devil's Advocate?

The report, with its accompanying videos, make sickening reading. Men laugh and casually discuss how they dismembered bodies, set people on fire, raped women, ripped fetuses out of pregnant women's bellies with the full knowledge and sanction of the state and police. The link above is not for the faint hearted.

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