Major Controversies Surrounding Narendra Modi: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Narendra Modi—discover key moments of controversy.

Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician serving as the Prime Minister of India since 2014. Previously, he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is currently a Member of Parliament for Varanasi. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization. Modi is the longest-serving prime minister outside of the Indian National Congress party.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

February 2002: Godhra Train Burning and Riots

On February 27, 2002, a train carrying Hindu pilgrims burned near Godhra, killing approximately 60 people. Subsequently, anti-Muslim violence spread through Gujarat, resulting in numerous deaths and displacement. Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister, stated local Muslims were responsible for the incident.

2002: Modi's Response to 2002 Riots and Media Handling

In 2002, during the riots, Modi stated, "What is happening is a chain of action and reaction". Later in 2002, Modi expressed that his only regret regarding the episode was the way he had handled the media.

2002: Gujarat Violence

In 2002, the Gujarat violence occurred during Narendra Modi's administration, resulting in over 1,000 deaths according to official records.

2002: BBC Documentary 'India: The Modi Question'

In 2023, the BBC documentary 'India: The Modi Question' examined Narendra Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots and his record as Prime Minister of India.

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2002: Controversy surrounding Gujarat riots

Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots continues to attract criticism and controversy.

2002: Modi's Media Image Centered Around 2002 Gujarat Riots

Prior to the 2014 election, Modi's media image had centred around his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. During the campaign, the BJP focused on Modi's neoliberal ideology and the Gujarat model of development.

2005: Chand Bujh Gaya film release

In 2005, Pratap Singh played a character based on Narendra Modi in Chand Bujh Gaya, a film set against the backdrop of the Gujarat riots.

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2005: Enactment of Disaster Management Act

The Disaster Management Act was enacted in 2005.

March 2008: Supreme Court Reopens 2002 Riots Cases

In March 2008, the Supreme Court of India reopened several cases related to the 2002 riots, including the Gulbarg Society massacre, and established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the issue.

April 2009: Court Asks SIT to Investigate Modi's Complicity

In April 2009, responding to a petition from Zakia Jafri, the widow of Ehsan Jafri, the court asked the SIT to investigate Modi's complicity in the killings related to the 2002 riots.

March 2010: SIT Questioned Modi

In March 2010, the SIT questioned Modi regarding his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

July 2011: Amicus Curiae Submits Report

In July 2011, the court-appointed amicus curiae, Raju Ramachandran, submitted his final report to the court, stating that Modi could be prosecuted based on the available evidence related to the 2002 riots, which was contrary to the SIT's position.

March 2012: SIT Submits Final Report

In March 2012, the SIT submitted its final report, requesting the case to be closed, after examining Ramachandran's report regarding the 2002 riots.

2012: Supreme Court Investigation

In 2012, a Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court of India found no evidence to initiate prosecution proceedings against Narendra Modi regarding the 2002 Gujarat violence.

December 2013: Magistrate's Court Rejects Petition

In December 2013, the magistrate's court rejected Zakia Jafri's protest petition, accepting the SIT's finding that there was no evidence against Modi regarding the 2002 riots.

2013: 7 RCR Series on Controversial Years

In 2014, the 7 RCR television series covered the period of Narendra Modi's career from 2001 to 2013 in the "Story of Narendra Modi in Controversial Years from 2001 to 2013" episode.

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2014: Foreword to Textbook Claiming Ancient Indian Technologies

In 2014, Modi wrote a foreword to a textbook by Dinanath Batra, which made the unscientific claim that ancient India possessed technologies including test-tube babies.

2014: Appointment of Yellapragada Sudershan Rao as chairperson of ICHR in 2014

In 2014, Yellapragada Sudershan Rao, previously associated with the RSS, became the chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). Historians questioned Rao's credentials, viewing it as part of a cultural nationalism agenda.

2014: Remarks on Climate Change

Speaking with Assamese students in 2014, Modi downplayed climate change, saying, "Climate has not changed. We have changed. Our habits have changed. Our habits have got spoiled. Due to that, we have destroyed our entire environment."

September 2016: Surgical strike on terror launch pads in Azad Kashmir

On 29 September 2016, the Modi administration said the Indian Army had conducted a surgical strike on terror launch pads in Azad Kashmir, with Indian media reporting up to 50 terrorists and Pakistani soldiers had been killed. However, independent analysts suggested the scope of the strike and the number of casualties had been exaggerated.

November 2016: Demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes in November 2016

On 9 November 2016, the government demonetised ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes to curb corruption, black money, terrorism, and counterfeit currency. This action led to cash shortages, stock market declines, widespread protests, job losses, and a reduction in GDP.

2016: Demonetization of Banknotes

In 2016, Narendra Modi's administration demonetized banknotes, sparking controversy.

2017: Introduction of Goods and Services Tax

In 2017, Narendra Modi's administration introduced the Goods and Services Tax, sparking controversy.

February 2019: Airstrikes against a supposed terrorist camp in Pakistan

In February 2019, India carried out airstrikes against a supposed terrorist camp in Pakistan. Further military skirmishes, including cross-border shelling and the loss of an Indian aircraft, occurred.

2019: Passage of citizenship law in 2019

In 2019, the Modi administration passed a citizenship law that provides a route to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis or Christians, but does not grant eligibility to Muslims. This law attracted global criticism and prompted widespread protests.

2020: Delhi Riots

In 2020, the Delhi riots occurred, targeting Muslims, after the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act by Narendra Modi's administration.

February 2021: Renaming of Motera Stadium

On February 24, 2021, the Gujarat Cricket Association renamed Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad—the largest cricket stadium in the world—Narendra Modi Stadium, sparking controversy.

May 2022: WHO estimate of COVID-19 deaths

In May 2022, the WHO estimated 4.7 million people had died of COVID-19 in India, mostly during the second wave in mid 2021, but the Modi administration rejected the WHO's estimate.

2022: Criticism for silence over ceding land to China

From late 2022, Modi was criticised for maintaining silence over the ceding of about 2,000 km land to China since June 2020.

2022: Supreme Court Dismisses Zakia Jafri's Petition

In 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed Zakia Jafri's petition challenging Modi's exoneration by the SIT regarding the 2002 riots, upholding previous rulings that no evidence was found against him.

May 2023: Violent clashes in Manipur begin in May 2023

Since May 2023, ethnic tensions between groups have resulted in violent clashes in Manipur, leading to nearly 100 deaths and displacing over 36,000 people. Modi has faced criticism for his perceived lack of response to the violence.

2023: BBC Documentary 'India: The Modi Question'

In 2023, the BBC released a documentary called India: The Modi Question, which examined Narendra Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots and his record as Prime Minister of India. The Indian government subsequently banned the documentary.

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2024: Communal targeting of Muslims during campaign for 2024 Indian general election

During his campaign for 2024 Indian general election, Modi communally targeted the Muslims. Factcheckers refuted Modi's claim that he made no mention of Muslim or Hindu in his campaign speech and found numerous instances across his election campaign where he communally targeted the Muslims.

2024: Electoral fraud accusations in 2024 election

In 2024, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, claimed widespread electoral fraud and accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of collusion with the ruling BJP during the 2024 general election.

2025: Electoral fraud claims in 2025

In 2025, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, alleged widespread electoral fraud during the 2024 general election, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of collusion with the ruling BJP.