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Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day fast evoked mixed reactions from major political parties with BJP ally JD(U) dismissing the publicity surrounding the event. The Congress said fasts did not lessen Modi’s “crimes” while Samajwadi Party attributed it to “power struggle” within the BJP.
“Modi is feeling the need to fast, which means he has realised his involvement in crimes in Gujarat but fast cannot change anyone’s character. Fast does not lessen Modi’s crimes,” Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
Samajwadi Party general secretary Mohan Singh said Modi has “no moral right” to fast as he has not followed ‘rajdharma’ and still lots of women — including the wife of former Home Minister Haren Pandya — were running from pillar to post for justice.
Mohan Singh claimed that the fast was aimed at foiling senior BJP leader LK Advani’s attempt to bring himself to the forefront as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
“The fast was reflective of the power struggle in the BJP with Modi wanting to grab the centrestage at a time when Advani is re-asserting himself,” said the SP leader.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav was critical of the publicity surrounding the fast. “Seventy to 80 per cent of the people make a living at Rs 20 a day. Eighty per cent people fast daily. The majority of people of the country fasts regularly. The question is whether they do it for half day or full day. Nobody talks about them but fasts by individuals are discussed,” Yadav said.
The BJP, on the other hand, termed the fast as “historic” with party leaders like Advani and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely praising the political leadership of Modi.
“Modi is feeling the need to fast, which means he has realised his involvement in crimes in Gujarat but fast cannot change anyone’s character. Fast does not lessen Modi’s crimes,” Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
Samajwadi Party general secretary Mohan Singh said Modi has “no moral right” to fast as he has not followed ‘rajdharma’ and still lots of women — including the wife of former Home Minister Haren Pandya — were running from pillar to post for justice.
Mohan Singh claimed that the fast was aimed at foiling senior BJP leader LK Advani’s attempt to bring himself to the forefront as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
“The fast was reflective of the power struggle in the BJP with Modi wanting to grab the centrestage at a time when Advani is re-asserting himself,” said the SP leader.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav was critical of the publicity surrounding the fast. “Seventy to 80 per cent of the people make a living at Rs 20 a day. Eighty per cent people fast daily. The majority of people of the country fasts regularly. The question is whether they do it for half day or full day. Nobody talks about them but fasts by individuals are discussed,” Yadav said.
The BJP, on the other hand, termed the fast as “historic” with party leaders like Advani and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely praising the political leadership of Modi.
