Congress decides to boycott festivities

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Congress decided to boycott the Swarnim Gujarat celebrations hosted by chief minister Narendra Modi, marking the completion of 50 years of the state's formation on Sunday. Their grouse is that Modi is ending up celebrating 10 years of his own rule instead of the state's history and ignored the leading lights who contributed to the state's legacy.
Opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, "instead of being a state function it appears to be that of chief minister Narendra Modi's".
In a letter to Modi, he said that he and his party supported the golden jubilee celebrations. It had supported the joint convention of present and past members of the assembly. This had helped project an image of unity transcending all political ideologies. During this period, the state government had assured that in golden jubilee celebrations government will maintain the dignity of all members without bringing in party politics.
He alleged that unfortunately, the government did not live up to its promise. The names of the elected Congress representatives are missing from the invitation card. "On the contrary, names of office bearers of BJP are printed with their posts which they hold in the party," he said.
He further said that there were also instances when Congress members were invited on the dais, but they were humiliated in highly political vindictive speeches by ruling party members. He added that some Congress leaders who tried to attend these events were also detained.
Meanwhile, state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia said the BJP has played around with history. "Instead of talking of overall development of the state, the function focused only on 10 years of Modi's rule in the state", he said. Modhwadia added that the state was dotted with huge hoardings featuring Modi, but names of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Narsinh Mehta, Narmad, Jhaverchand Meghani as well as other leaders who contributed to the formation and growth of Gujarat didn't find mention anywhere. Also, the party has just neglected the martyrs of the state in the official function. He said that all the villages were provided road connectivity and power during the Congress rule but BJP was taking credit for this.