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Modi begins second phase of Gujarat Gaurav Yatra

Sheela Bhatt in Jhanjraka

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began the second phase of his Gujarat Gaurav Yatra from Jhanjraka, a religious town in Ahmedabad district.

A moderate crowd and the absence of euphoria distinguished the second phase from the first, which was flagged off from Phagvel on September 8.

In his speech the Gujarat chief minister rejected the charge that his yatra will divide the society, blaming the Congress party for the division of the country and for driving a wedge between the Hindus and Muslims.

"In 1857, Hindus and Muslims had put up united front against the British, but by the time 1947 arrived not only the society got divided but even the country got divided. The division of the country is the sin committed by the Congress. Congressmen are guilty of division of India. At that time Bharatiya Janata Party was even not born." He said.

Reacting to Congress state president Shankersinh Vaghela's comment that the Kargil war was the 'handiwork' of the BJP, Modi said, "A person who loves his country will never talk like this."

He attacked the Congress for 'playing the Dalit card', but refrained from attacking its chief Sonia Gandhi.

Speaking in Gujarati, Modi addressed Congressmen as Congressiya and alleged that they are naffat (shameless). "Congressmen can go even against the interest of the country to get votes," he said.

Trying to cash in on the Dalit votebank in Saurashtra, a Congress stronghold, he described his second phase as the Dalit yatra.

"In Parliament, the BJP has the largest number of Dalit MPs and the largest number of Dalit women MPs. And in Gujarat too, the BJP has more Dalit MLAs as compared to Congress," he said. "BJP's inroads among the Dalits is making Congress absolutely nervous."

Criticising Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's September 11 speech at the UN General Assembly, Mod said, "Musharraf's language and the language of Congress is exactly the same. What can be the greater tragedy than this?"

The third phase of the yatra will pass through the tribal areas next weekend and conclude on September 23.

Former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel had refused to join Modi's yatra citing ill-health, but Union Cabinet ministers Ashok Pradhan and Satya Narayan Jatia were present.

After the first phase of his yatra, the BJP president Venkaiah Naidu had called upon Modi to tone down his attack on Muslims.

Vijay Goel, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, had also told Modi not to 'cross the limits'.

Gujarat Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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