Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi cut short a television interview at his Ahmedabad residence on Friday after he was repeatedly asked questions about the post-Godhra riots in 2002.
Modi terminated the interview to CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme midway when questioner Karan Thapar asked if he had any regrets about the Gujarat riots and also about his image as an anti-Muslim.
Modi first asked for water, then removed the microphone from his shirt and told Thapar that he cannot continue the interview.
"The friendship should continue. You came here. I am happy and thankful to you. These are your ideas, you go on expressing these. I can't do this interview. Three-four questions I have already enjoyed. No more please," he said, abruptly ending the interview.
Earlier, when asked why he was not admitting that his government should have done more to protect Muslims during the riots, Modi merely said, "What I had to say I have said at that time and you can find out my statements".
Before walking out, the firebrand leader said he never bothered to indulge in an image building exercise and argued that only two-three people have accused him of being prejudiced against Muslims.
"I am busy with my work. I am committed to Gujarat and I am dedicated to Gujarat. I never talk about my image, never spent a single minute for my image and confusions may be there," he said.
During the interview, Thapar asked Modi why in spite of being an efficient administrator he is often referred to as a mass murderer. The chief minister responded, "I think it is not proper to say that (there are) people. There are two-three people who talk in this terminology and I always say God bless them".
He also contested reports that the Supreme Court had likened him to a modern day Nero in the context of the riots, saying nothing of that sort was there in the written court judgement.
The interview came at a time when the BJP is angry at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for dubbing Gujarat riots as a holocaust.