Vajpayee was not keen on my 2002 official visit to Gujarat: Kalam

“One of the main reasons was political. However,I made up my mind that I would go. My mission was not to look at what had happened,not to look at what was happening,but to focus on what should be done.” wrote Kalam on his decision to visit the state.

“The Prime Minister asked me only one question. ‘Do you consider going to Gujarat at this time,essential?’ I told the PM,‘I consider it an important duty so that I can be of some use to remove the pain,accelerate the relief activities and bring about a unity of minds.”

One of the main apprehensions expressed against his visit according to Kalam,was that it might be boycotted by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and that he would receive a cold reception and witness protests from many sides. “But,to my great surprise when I landed at Gandhinagar,not only the Chief Minister,but his entire cabinet and a large number of legislators,officials and members of the public were present at the airport.” he recollects.

“I visited three relief camps and nine riot-hit locations. Narendra Modi was with me throughout the visit. In a way this helped me. Since wherever I went,I received petitions and complaints and since he was with me I was able to suggest to him that action be taken as quickly as possible.”

“While I was in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar,people from all sections of society wished to talk to me and express their problems and views personally. In one such gathering,nearly 2,000 citizens of Ahmedabad surrounded me. I was asked about fifty questions and received 150 petitions.”

“Our land with its heritage of a highly evolved civilization and where great men were born and stood tall as role models for the entire world,communal riots with their attendant tragedy are an aberration that should never happen.” writes Kalam.