CHENNAI: Extending their support to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Sadbhavana Mission, the three-day fast for Unity, Peace and Harmony, the Gujarati community in the city held a day-long token fast at the Gujarati Mandal in Broadway on Sunday.Members of Sri Gujarati Mandal and Sri Gujarati Mandal Building Trust, along with 40 other various Gujarati associations in the city, participated in the fast to show their support to the Gujarat CM.Stating that Gujarat had not witnessed a curfew since the riots in 2002, the members here on fast said that their ‘beloved’ chief minister’s aim was to make Gujarat the No 1 place in the world.“He has gained the confidence of the people and has developed the state in many aspects. His aim is to live and let live,” said Suresh Pareikh, Secretary, Gujarati Mandal. Over 35,000 Gujaratis in the city and their associations in other parts of the state, including Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, Madurai and Tirupur, were extending their support, he added. Recalling the migration of their ancestors from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, they said that famine had forced them to leave their native places and start a new life in the South. “Gujaratis migrated to Tamil Nadu several decades ago during the British regime. Today, we have Gujaratis from various parts of Gujarat living here, including Muslims, people from Kutch, Sourashtra and Bhanashkata,” said Ramesh Bhatt, Vice President of the Gujarati Mandal, which was started in 1925 and operates as the parent body for the various Gujarati associations here.The members on fast, who recalled the famine-hit Gujarat, said the state had seen a tremendous change after Modi took over. They beamed with pride when they said that their native state had all the basic facilities, including water and electricity. “Our chief minister gives priority to five things – water, farmers, electricity, investment and growth. We have 24-hour electricity supply there and are even generating electricity for neighbouring states,” explained Suresh. “Chennai follows the successful BRTS system we have in Ahmedabad. Besides all that, he gave importance to literacy for girl children through his Kanya Kelavuni Nidhi. We have 80 per cent literacy in the state now.” The members said that it was not only the fast that was aimed at harmony and peace but also the one-lakh square feet Mahatma Mandir that was being constructed in Gandhi Nagar, which is also regarded as a symbol of world peace. “It was being constructed as part of the Swaranim Jayanti – 50 years celebration of the state of Gujarat last year. “Forty five of us represented the state at the celebrations and we took sand from Rameswaram for the construction of the foundation of the Mandir. All associations in the country were invited for the celebrations,” said Ramesh. “Narenda Modiji too would meet us whenever he comes to Chennai,” said the members, showing the pictures they had taken with the Gujarat CM.They clarified that the three-day fast by Modi was not a political gimmick. “No doubt, Modi is eligible for the PM's post. But he does not have any political agenda behind the fast. We only hope that miscreants and terrorists change by seeing us fast,” the members added in unison.
Comments
0 comment