Rs550 crore mining scam accused blunts Modi’s sadbhavna mission

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held his Sadbhavna fast at Porbandar but what seemed to raise eyebrows was the presence of former BJP minister Babu Bokhiria at the venue. Bokhiria, who is the main accused in an illegal mining scam of Rs554 crore and is currently out on bail, shared the stage with Modi.

Incidentally, a few days before Modi’s Sadbhavna event, posters and banners of BJP leaders who are also accused in different cases, had sprung up all over the city welcoming him to Porbandar. The posters and banners carried the names of the sponsoring BJP leaders as well.

The president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), Arjun Modhwadia, also belongs to Porbandar and is an MLA from the city. However, the Satkarma fast organised by the Congress to counter Modi’s show was led by party’s MP from Porbandar, Vitthal Radadia, who also has criminal cases pending against him.

The leaders of both the parties went to Kirti Mandir (Gandhiji’s birthplace) and paid homage to the Mahatma before starting their fast. The Congress was given permission for its fast at the ground near Chunani Bhatthi area of the town while the CM’s fast was held at Chowpatty on the Porbandar coast.

Mod attracted a bigger crowd than the opposition camp but Radadia and his supporters also managed a full house at their venue. Nearly 12,000 people visited the CM’s Sadbhavna fast while around 9,000 people visited the Congress’ venue. Incidentally, the fast at Porbandar gave Modi a reason for not attending LK Advani’s public rally in New Delhi on Sunday.