Modi's RSS cap creates flutter at I-day celebrations in Gujarat >From Indo-Asian News Service
Ahmedabad, Aug 15 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi donned the black cap of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) while hoisting the national flag on Independence Day Friday, but that was not the only controversy surrounding the event. It concluded with distinctly Hindu rituals like the "Shiv tandav stotra", "Ganesh vandana", "Sahastra linga puja" and "Shakti puja" which had been bitterly opposed by the main opposition Congress, which contended these would alienate the minority communities. And, in a break from tradition, the main function was held not in the capital Gandhinagar but in Patan, 125 km from here, the seat of the Solanki dynasty in 8th-11th century, which lost its glory when Muslim invader Mahmud of Ghazni attacked it in 1024. The Hindu connection was made explicit as the city was virtually painted saffron with more flags of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) than the national tricolour. Modi, who began his career as an apparatchik of the RSS, rubbed in the Hindu theme, referring to the Godhra train burning and the need to control population - a distinct aside at the Muslims. In an attempt to counter Modi, the Congress also organised a flag hoisting at Patan and gave the honour to Viththalbhai Pandya, father of slain former minister Haren Pandya who was a Modi rival in the party. The elder Pandya has repeatedly charged Modi was involved in his son's killing. "Modi was always jealous of my son's popularity. He is responsible for my son's murder," Pandya said Friday after hoisting the national flag. Some 10,000 people attended the function. "The Modi government has taken only anti-people measures (since it came to power in December 2002)", charged state Congress president Shankersinh Vaghela. Vaghela charged the government with misusing the police to put down an agitation by farmers against power tariff hikes. A farmers' rally in the state's second biggest city of Vadodara turned violent Thursday, with a police inspector losing his life. Police had made heavy security arrangements in Patan due to the two functions. The Congress, in fact, received permission only on Thursday to conduct its flag hoisting. Modi has said the move to hold functions in other cities is meant to "bring Gandhinagar to the door-step of the people". This year's function to observe the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 would be held in Porbandar, Gandhiji's birthplace. The government had held the state's foundation day ceremony on May 1 at Vadodara. --Indo-Asian News Service ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################