Ahmedabad, Sep 20 (ANI): Taking a dig at Chief Minister Narendra Modi's fast under the 'Sadbhavana Mission', the Congress Party in Gujarat on Tuesday claimed the fast of its leaders had exposed corruption by the BJP government in the state.
Congress Party's leaders Shankarsinh Vaghela and Arjun Modhvadia broke their three-day fast here. They were fasting against Modi's, 'harmony fast'.
Referring to Modi, who broke his definite hunger strike on Monday evening, Modhvadia said he (Modi) was exposed to such an extent that he called off his 72-hour fast within 52 hours.
"Our aim was to expose corruption by BJP government and Modi, hypocrisy and mal-administration. It was exposed to such an extent he (Modi) had to call off his 72-hour fast within 52 hours," Modhvadia told reporters.
Shaktisinh Gohil, senior Congress leader, said BJP senior leaders praised Modi because he was their biggest fund-raiser by indulging in corrupt activities.
"You (media) have seen that we got support from the people. All the BJP senior leaders went there to sing praise for Modi because Modi is their biggest fund-raiser by indulging in corruption. The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) has pointed out that Modi has indulged in corruption worth rupees 26,672 crore. Modi will have to answer the people of Gujarat," Gohil said.
Gohil further blamed Modi for instigation of 2002 Gujarat communal riots in which nearly 2000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.
"When he (Narendra Modi) indulges in corruption, treasury is at loss. But when he fasts then also treasury is at loss. Why fast now? Today harmony exists in Gujarat. When there was need for harmony and fast in 2002 he instigated riots. He used such words, which engulfed Gujarat in communal violence. He is indulging in theatrics, gimmick to divert attention from the people," added," Gohil said.
Modi began a "harmony fast" on Saturday to soften his image as a hardliner blamed for religious riots in 2002.
The fast was seen by many as a bid by Narendra Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to launch him as a leader on the national stage.
Seizing the moment after the Supreme Court referred to a lower court a case in which Modi was accused of complicity in the 2002 violence, he used the fast to depict himself as a conciliator with a strong record to build the economy of the state.
After leading Gujarat for the past decade, there has been speculation that Modi would seek a greater role in national politics as the contender for the Prime Minister's post in the next general elections. (ANI)
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