Unveiling of Statue of Unity a "BJP event": Gujarat Congress

The Gujarat Congress Tuesday said unveiling of the Statue of Unity Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "BJP programme" and the party has organised its own event to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The main opposition party said none of its leaders will take part in the statue dedication ceremony.

The Statue of Unity, touted as the world's tallest statue and dedicated to Patel, will be unveiled on October 31 by Modi at a grand ceremony in Kevadia, Narmada district.

The unveiling ceremony is being organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the first home minister of independent India.

The Congress said a lecture programme will be organised at Bhaikaka Bhavan here to pay tributes to Patel and also to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (whose death anniversary falls on October 31).

The lecture will be delivered by former vice chancellor of the Bhavnagar University Vidyut Joshi.

All important state Congress leaders, including its state president Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, will be present at the event, which will be organised at 1 pm, GPCC spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

"We have organised our own programme to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. We will have a lecture programme, which will be delivered by former Bhavnagar University vice chancellor Vidyut Joshi.

Doshi said no Congress leader will participate in the unveiling ceremony of the statue as it is a "BJP event."