As for the rest of your argument, I am not convinced.1) The same state government was able to prevent any outbreak of violence after the Akshardham attack, something that shows that with determination, it could be done. Even if he was caught by surprise, I'm sure you remember the election that followed where the communal card was clearly played 2) talking about Gujarat's pride as if that was enhanced after the riots. This whitewashing of events works only with those who don't know the full sequence of events. As I said, Modi may not be complicit, the best that can be said for him was that he was incompetent during the riots & 3) worked to reap political advantage from that tragic incident during the elections. Not for nothing did Vajpayee want him out. Remember Vajpayee lecturing Modi about Rajdharma?