Tents pop up for Congress fast

Even as massive preparations were afoot for Narendra Modis fast,three tents sprung up outside the Sabarmati Ashram where Congress leaders Shankersinh Vaghela.

Tents pop up for Congress fast

Even as massive preparations were afoot for Narendra Modis fast,three tents sprung up outside the Sabarmati Ashram where Congress leaders Shankersinh Vaghela and Arjun Modhwadia will start a parallel fast on Saturday morning.

While a huge 80X20 feet tent will accommodate the two fasting leaders and their Congress colleagues,a second smaller tent has been erected for ladies. The third one will be home to bhajan mandalis who will belt out nationalisitic songs round-the-clock. Compared to Modis event,the Congress affair is low-key. While no top central leader is coming for their footpath fast,300 cadres from state Congress Seva Dal have been roped in to fast along with Vaghela and Modhwadia. Ghanshyam Patel,who is organising the Congress show,said the Tata Tempo which was used as rath by Vaghela during election campaigns would be stationed behind the tents for use by the two leaders who would begin their fasts after prayers in the Sabarmati Ashram. The organiser did not say any thing about the expenses to be incurred.

62 kg cake for 62nd Modi bday

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A 62 kg cake,62 balloons and 62 bottles of blood will be the highlight of Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s 62nd birthday celebrations in the communally sensitive Raikhad-Jamalpur area here on Saturday. Taking pains to explain that the function is not of the BJP but of local Hindus and Muslims,Abdul Rauf Shaikh,general secretary of the BJP’s minority cell in Ahmedabad,said they would mark Modi’s birthday with prayers to make his fast successful and fulfil his wish. Around 300-400 Hindus and Muslims from the area would gather at Jamalpur Darwaja at 11 in the morning. Asked why they would cut the cake when Modi himself was to go on fast,Shaikh said,”We are going to celebrate his birthday to enthuse him in his efforts. Apart from Hindus and Muslims,people from other religions have also been invited.”

Pandyas wife to come for justice

Slain former minister Haren Pandyas widow Jagruti Pandya will garland her late husbands statue at 11.30 am on Saturday and then head straight to Gujarat Universitys convention hall to meet CM Narendra Modi,who is beginning his three-day fast here. Incidentally,the statue was installed by Gujarat BJP in a function attended by Modi after the former ministers killing. I think other senior central BJP leaders will also be present there. I will urge them to show sadbhavna to the family members of their own party member. CM has not shown sadbhavna towards Harens family. I will remind him about it, said Jagruti.