Modi begins three-day ’sadbhavana’ fast

Agencies

Ahmadabad, 17 September 2011: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi began his three-day ’sadbhavana’ fast, which is poised to be a grand affair, at the state University Convention Hall in Ahmedabad on Saturday (September 17). The BJP state government made all the arrangements including five-tier security for the event. 

 

A galaxy of BJP leaders were present on the first day of Modi’s fast. Senior party leaders LK Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, BJP national vice-presidents Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Kalraj Mishra, general secretaries Vijay Goel, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Mahila Morcha President, MP Smriti Irani and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Premkumar Dhumal were present at the venue. 

 

AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has extended her support by sending two of her ministers. Mantriyan and AIDMK MP Thambidurai were present on the occasion. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Chief Minister Dhumal were also be present. 

 

In a late evening statement, expressed gratitude to all those who had pointed out his "genuine mistakes" during the past 10 years. 

An official press release, issued on the eve of his three-day fast, stated that the chief minister has said that "India and Gujarat have realized that casteism and communal fanaticism does not serve anybody. Gujarat has risen over the distortions in society and national life to march on to the path of progress, peace, unity, harmony and brotherhood." 

 

"..no State, society or individual can claim to be perfect. I am grateful to all those who pointed out my genuine mistakes during last 10 years. I seek your blessings to serve the people with devotion free from all human shortcomings." 

 

Modi said that the Constitution of India is supreme for him. "There could be no favourite, no foe of a state". As the chief minister, he said, "anybody’s suffering is my suffering. Providing justice to all is the state’s duty". 

 

He sought everybody’s blessings "on this occasion to serve the people better". 

 

Before he started the three-day long fast,Narendra Modi addressing the mammoth gathering traced the problems faced by Gujarat since the worst earthquake and how during his government Gujarat emerged as a developed state. He said that when Gujarat was in trouble nobody came to its rescue. There were serial bomb blasts. However, six crore Gujaratis had pateince. There were communal clashes on minor issues. There used to be curfew. However, since last ten years there has not be any curfew in Gujarat. He said that Gujarat has done great progress in all fields and would be happy to help any state that requires assistance.He hailed Gujarat example. Modi claimed that by walking on the path of democracy and constitutionalism he could rebuild Gujarat and bring development and progress with good governance. He said that with the model of Gujarat India can make progress with harmony, brotherhood, peace and goodwill. He further said that this would bring the death-knell  of ’vote bank’ politics.

 

Modi’s bete noire Shankarsinh Vaghela of the Congress too launched on a three-day fast to counter him, outside Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in the city. 

 

Modi’s fast is part of his ’mission sadbhavana’ after what his party claims is the clean chit given by the Supreme Court to him in the charges of conspiracy preferred by Zakia Jafri, widow of late Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who perished among the 69 people in the massacre at Gulberg Housing Society in Ahmedabad in the communal rioting that followed the 2002 Godhra train carnage. 

 

"It (the fast) is for communal and social harmony," Modi stated announcing his decision.