Zeenews Bureau
Ahmedbad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's ‘sadbhavna’ fast to promote “peace, harmony and unity” entered the third and final day on Monday.
The fast is being held at Convocation Hall of Gujarat University.
At 10.30 am, Modi and people at the venue observed a minute of silence for the victims of the earthquake that hit Sikkim and several areas in the eastern and northern parts of the country yesterday. Modi is likely to end his fast at around 5.30 pm today.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray reached the fast venue today morning.
“Narendra bhai is an icon of development. The nation needs Modi to lead. I would like to see him as the next Prime Minister,” Thackeray said addressing the cheering supporters.
Many top BJP leaders are expected to make an appearance at the venue and lend their support to the 'Sadbhavana mission'. Among the most prominent BJP leaders, who are expected to arrive at the Gujarat University Convention Centre, include Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu, party MP and actor Hema Malini and national spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman.
After yesterday's incident of baton-charging by police on the crowd that had come to visit the CM, Gujarat Revenue Minister and close aide of Modi, Anandi Patel has taken on the task of supervising the security arrangements at the entrance gate.
Patel was seen at the main entrance, instructing police officers and discussing security arrangements with them.
State transport buses from across Gujarat are bringing people from all walks of life at the fast site and they were seen carrying banners with slogans supporting Modi's fast.
A huge crowd is expected, besides VIP dignitaries from across the country.
On Day-2 of the fast, police detained activists and some victims of the 2002 communal violence to prevent their march to the venue. Modi's baiters Mallika Sarabhai and Mukul Sinha were also temporarily detained.
Sarabhai accused Modi of using public funds to "bribe her lawyers" in an attempt to derail proceedings of the PIL filed in the Supreme Court by her on the post-Godhra 2002 riots case.
JD(U), a prominent NDA ally yesterday hit out at Gujarat CM saying Modi has failed to follow Rajdharma in Gujarat. “When he can't do justice with five crore people of a state how will he be able to deliver justice to 125 crore of the country," JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari said.
Speaking on the Day-2 of his fast Chief Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that his fast is not aimed at wooing "any particular community or religion".
"Sadbhavna Mission is not about any particular community or religion. It is about the people of Gujarat. Gujarat's progress has shown the way forward," Modi said, flanked by top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.
"The mission is to unite, not divide. Gujarat is my family, the six crore Gujaratis' happiness and grief, dreams and aspirations are mine," he asserted.
Modi’s high-profile three-day fast is being countered by his Congress rival and Modi's one-time RSS colleague Shankarsinh Vaghela. Modi’s fast is being considered as an image-makeover for him for a bigger role at the national level.
Flanked by top BJP leaders, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday had cited the achievements of his 10-year reign as he launched his three-day 'sadbhavna' fast for peace, unity and harmony.
First Published: Monday, September 19, 2011, 09:10