Purshottam Rupala bats for Narendra Modi and his fast

Amid talks about souring equations between BJP leader LK Advani and his protégé chief minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat’s Rajya Sabha MP Purshottam Rupala on Friday furnished a justification on the need for the three-day Sadbhavna mission fast.
Rupala allegedly gave the justification at the national executive meet of the BJP held in New Delhi.

Rupala, who is BJP’s national vice-president and member of the national executive committee, is considered to be a close ally of Modi.

On the first day of the national executive meet, Rupala rubbished talks of souring relations between Modi and Advani.  Talking to mediapersons, Rupala said, “It is a very important meeting. But he (Narendra Modi) was busy in some personal urgent work and that’s why he could not attend it.”  Rupala further said it was not necessary for all the expected members to be able to attend the meeting.

“But it is very fortunate that the entire country wants to know the reason behind Modi’s absence,” said Rupala. Sources in the BJP said that at the national executive meet Rupala furnished details and outcome of the Sadbhavna mission held by Modi from September 17 to 19. “He also justified the need for such a mission in view of the Supreme Court ruling in connection with the complaint of Jakia Jafri seeking action against Modi and 61 others,” said the source.   

The Supreme Court ruling was an important one for Modi as it was widely speculated that the chief minister could get into trouble due to Jakia's complaint.

Last year, the special investigation team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court had also taken Modi's statement for two days in Gandhinagar. Even amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran had also recently questioned vital witnesses in the case.

It its ruling, the Apex Court had left it to the Metropolitan Court to decide whether there was enough evidence to register a case against the chief minister and 61 others named in Jakia's complaint.

Sources said that the Supreme Court ruling had come as a big respite for Modi and he may have wanted to show this to the people.

"Therefore, he held the three day Sadbhavna mission fast," said the source.

It should be noted that the chief minister's fast had come under severe criticism by  the opposition Congress, NGOs working for riot victims and several others for the expenditure incurred
for the same.

The mission further got embroiled in a controversy after Modi refused to wear a skullcap offered by a Maulana thus prompting suggestions that his

Sadbhavna for Muslims was not genuine.

According to sources, few BJP leaders are also of the belief that the skullcap issue has affected the image of the party. It should be noted that the state BJP wanted to show the government's Sadbhavna to Muslims with the fast but it went all wrong when the media latched on to the skullcap incident.

The source, however, said that such feelings were not officially discussed during the national meeting on Friday.