Narendra Modi's fast an eye-wash, says Shankersingh Vaghela

The counter fast of Gujarat Congress against Narendra Modi's 3-day 'Sadbhavna' fast ended Tuesday morning. State congress leaders Shankarsingh Vaghela and Arjun Modhvadia took lemon water by the hands of children and ended 72-hour fast.

During his address after ending the fast, Vaghela, a former union textile minister, came down heavily on Modi calling his fast an eye-wash for the citizens of Gujarat. "Modi has betrayed the citizens of the state and country by his 'five star' fast. His fast was more a farce and hypocrisy than the sacred objective of fasting. His fast has exposed the dark side of his government," said Vaghela.

While no senior national leaders from Congress remained present to support Vaghela's fast against Modi, a large number of people and party workers attended the three-day counter fast just outside the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Vaghela further mentioned that the fast was a protest against the corruption and wrongful administration of the Modi government and not a carnival of leaders as the government did.

Meanwhile, Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of opposition in state assembly also criticised Modi's fast saying it misguided people of Gujarat. "Had he been remorseful, he should have done this fast immediately after the Gujarat riots in 2002. But he did not and now just to gain political mileage he is doing this," said Gohil.

He further added that the Congress would continue to work as a responsible opposition in the state to educate people on the misdeeds of the present government.

"We fasted to draw the attention of the people of Gujarat to what was being done on their own soil by people elected by them to provide a neat and clean administration. Also as to how the ruling dispensation had betrayed their trust - and this purpose we have achieved," Vaghela added. Besides Gohil, senior state party leaders including Narhari Amin, former deputy chief minister and former state party chief Siddartha Patel remained present during the fast by the two veteran state congress leaders.