The much-hyped sankalp divas organised by the All-India Youth Congress in Bardoli fizzled out today with crowds way below the organisers’ expectation. While the arrangements were for 45,000 people, not more than 5,000 attended the function.The occasion was the 128th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel but GPCC president Shankarsinh Vaghela marked it with his usual BJP-bashing and anti-Narendra Modi speeches.Calling Modi be numbari sardar (duplicate sardar), Vaghela said: ‘‘The people in BJP conferred the title of chhote sardar — on Modi — on their own whereas it was the people who made Vallabhbahi Patel a Sardar.’’He said: ‘‘Sardar means leader. Can anyone of these people or their forefathers claim that they have achieved anything worthy of being called sardar?’’Each time Vaghela threw a challenge at Modi, the crowd applauded him. About the communal riots in the state, Vaghela said: ‘‘The Modi government has killed 2,000 Muslims. Someone else may kill 2,000 Hindus. What is the use of all this bloodshed, this will not give food or shelter to the poor.’’The rally was also attended by CLP leader Amarsinh Chaudhary, All-India Youth Congress president Randip Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, president of Gujarat Pradesh Youth Congress Bhavesh Lakhani, former Union minister Urmila Patel and senior leader Kumud Joshi.Amarsinh said: ‘‘What has the BJP achieved in its term? All that the PM did (during riots) was close his eyes and say sahansheelta ki hadd ho gayi hai (This is the limit to our patience).’’Taking cue from him, Surjewala said: ‘‘They (the BJP) talk about stern action when the Deputy Prime Minister hides in bathroom and the Prime Minister locks himself up in a room when Parliament is under terrorist attack.’’
