'Save democracy' campaign not linked to Cong: Gujarat ex-CM Suresh Mehta

Mehta has invited veteran BJP leader Yashwant Sinha to attend meetings of the campaign

Former Gujarat chief minister Suresh Mehta is set to lead a series of meetings across the state under the banner of Lokshahi Bachao Abhiyan, or the campaign to save democracy. Gujarat is scheduled to vote on December 9 and 14.

Mehta has invited veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha to attend meetings of the campaign on November 14, 15 and 16. The meetings are to be held in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Surat.

Speaking to Business Standard, Mehta said Sinha has confirmed his attendance. Sinha could not be contacted as he is travelling abroad. Of late, Sinha has been critical of the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the economy and the shrinking space for dissent within his party. He has also said that he was "past caring" if the BJP were to take any disciplinary action against him. Sinha had served as the finance minister in the Chandra Shekhar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.

Mehta, who was Gujarat's chief minister for nearly a year in 1995-96 and also the finance minister in the Keshubhai Patel-led government of that time, also rejected reports that he has invited veteran BJP leader LK Advani and that the Congress supported his campaign.

"My campaign has nothing to do with the Congress or any other political party. It is an initiative by citizens to bring to the fore the reality of the so-called Gujarat development model," he said. Mehta said the campaign does not and will not ask the electorate to vote in favour of any particular political party.

Apart from Mehta's Lokshahi Bachao Andolan, eminent citizens of Gujarat have also come together to support the effort under the banner of Prabuddha Nagarik Manch. Mehta quit the BJP in 2007.