Launching the second round of his Sadhbhavna mission, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday observed a day-long fast, saying he wanted to “expose” those trying to defame Gujarat.
Mr. Modi arrived here in the morning and offered prayers at Dwarkadheesh temple and also inaugurated an exhibition set up by state information department.
While addressing a public gathering Mr. Modi said, “I do not want to gain anything by staging fast but I want to highlight efforts of those who do not miss any opportunity to defame Gujarat. I want to send message that while detractors of Gujarat are trying to defame it, the state believes in brotherhood.”
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Gujarat was the first State in the country to extend help to Srinagar and even Pakistan during earthquake, Mr. Modi said adding that the opposition ignored Gujarat’s humanitarian approach.
Gujarat has achieved a great deal of progress and even its detractors have to accept it, Mr. Modi observed.
State finance minister Vajubhai Vala, BJP state unit spokesperson Vijay Rupani and MPs and MLAs of Saurashtra and Kutch were among those present.
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Mr. Modi had begun his Sadhbhavna mission on September 17 by holding a three-day fast in Ahmedabad.
Counter fast
To counter Mr. Modi’s fast, Congress MP from Jamnagar Vikram Madam is holding a parallel one-day fast about 3 km from the venue of Mr. Modi’s fast along with a couple of local Congress MLAs.
Mr. Madam said that state government has failed to utilise the Rs 8 crore grant for development of Dwarka.
Mr. Madam also opposed the state government’s move to arrest advocate V.H. Kanara, in connection with a case in which suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt is already in prison.