Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday condemned last year's riots in Gujarat and said those behind the carnage were being tried.

"I cannot think of people burning one another. What happened in Godhra was wrong and what happened thereafter was even worse," Vajpayee told more than 400 members of the Indian community in Bangkok.

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The PM, who flew in the afternoon to Hua Hin to call on Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, drove straight from the airport to the Shangri-La Hotel to meet the Indian community members.

A group of children surprised him by singing his famous poem Hum Jung Na Hone Denge.

He said if any Indian Muslim felt that he was not being treated fairly he had the right to go to court.

Vajpayee spoke passionately for nearly 45 minutes about Pakistan, Gujarat, his government and its achievements.

Referring to his talks with the Thai king, Vajpayee said what was to be a courtesy call ultimately stretched and the two spoke on several issues. "I had a long talk with the king; he is so knowledgeable."