Ahmedabad: Chief Minister Narendra Modi and
his arch rival in Gujarat politics Shankarsinh Vaghela on Thursday
almost came face to face in Mansa town.
Modi was today on a one-day Sadbhavna fast at Mansa in
Gandhinagar district, where Vaghela launched a leg of
Congress's Sardar Sandesh Yatra.
The state assembly elections, scheduled for December this
year, are being touted as a fight between the two former RSS
colleagues-turned arch-enemies. Congress has appointed Vaghela
as campaign committee chairman.
Both Vaghela and Modi started their careers in BJP, but
turned against each other after BJP came to power in Gujarat.
Vaghela quit BJP and formed his own outfit, Rashtriya Janta
Party. Later he joined Congress.
"BJP's misrule in Gujarat has badly affected the
marginalized section of the society. It has also insulted
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, while claiming that they are his
followers," Vaghela said before starting Mansa leg of Sardar
Sandesh Yatra.
While Modi, in his speech after the fast, attacked
Congress over the issue of minority reservations in the OBC
quota. "Centre's move to deduct OBC quota is a bid to divide
society on the basis of religion and caste", Modi said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 05, 2012, 22:19