Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi said that glorious traditions and inspiring history of the royal families need to be put before the world in its right perspectives.

Under the auspice of Vankaner royal family, as many as 26 royal families of Gujarat and Rajasthan today felicitated Chief Minister Mr.Narendra Modi. As a part of their tradition the former kings presented sword and turban along with a roll of honour to the Chief Minister.

Mr.Modi said that he takes his felicitation as the felicitation of hard work of six crore Gujarati people because of whom the state has achieved such great progress.

Due to the diseased mentality of the ruling parties after independence, many facts of India’s glorious past have not been put before the world. People of India are puzzled with their history and forgot their rich heritage. People who forget the shining heritage of their own culture can not create new history, he said.

Mr. Modi said that hundreds of royal families left their power on the call of Sardar Patel which is appreciable. Getting out of the power is not an easy thing. People of this nation have seen this when in 1976 the then Prime Minister, instead of getting out the power, imposed Emergency in the country for 19 months, he added.

Unjustly, the historians have mainly described the lavish lifestyle of the royal families omitting the other aspects. In fact, the royal families in India have a rich history that is full of values, ideals and works of welfare, he said.

There are many great chapters in our history which have gone unnoticed like the 1400 tribal people who had sacrificed their lives against the atrocities of

Britishers and the welfare works done by the kings of Saurashtra, which need to be documented properly, he said.

Regarding the roll of honour which was given to him for his best administration Mr. Modi said that the high growth rate of Gujarat has become reality because there is no corruption in the present state government and the people’s money is used for their welfare which is contrary to the practices of the Central government in Delhi.

Digvijay Sinh, former king of Vankaner, said the growth that Gujarat has achieved under Mr.Modi’s leadership is incomparable. “I have journeyed to many states and countries. Everywhere I heard praises for Mr.Narendra Modi. Comparing Gujarat with other states makes apparent that there is more peace and progress in Gujarat”, he said.

Shivbhadra Sinh, King of Bhavnagar, said Mr.Modi is like ‘Kshatriya’ under whose leadership Gujarat has scaled great heights of growth and that people will live safely and religions and culture will bloom under his leadership.

Chief Minister welcomed Kesaridev Sinh, Yuvraj of Vankaner, who joined in BJP on the occasion. He said that his political party believes not in ‘membership’ but in ‘relationship’. As sportsman spirit is the real code of conduct in sports, polity of growth is the demand of time, he said.

Minister of State for rural development Mr.Mohanbhai Kundariya, Minister of State for Environment Mr.Kiritsinh Rana, MP Mr.Vijaybhai Rupani, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Commission Mr.Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, former minister Mr.I.K.Jadeja, MLAs Mr.Pravinbhai Mankadiya, Mr.Kantibhai Amrutiya, from royal families Raghuvirsinhji of Sirohi, Urvashidevi of Devgadhbariya, Darbar Saheb of Dasada Jehergikhan Malik, Saheb M Salbadkhanji Babi of Balasinor, Kshtrasinhji Zala of Limbadi, Yuvraj of Rajkot Madhanasinh, MLA from Devgadhbariya Tusharsnhji, Maharja Lakhtar Prithvirajsinh Zala, Thakur of Lathi Kirtikumar Sinh, Kirtikumar Sinh of Chuda, Thakur of Virpur Pushpendra Sinhji, Patdi’s Karnisinhji, Darbar Saheb of Jetpur Mahipalsinhji Vala, Posina’s Saheb Somrathsinhji, Sultana Babi Saheb of Balasinor, Rani Saheb of Limbadi Snehla Kumari, Rani Saheb of Bhavnagar Talin Kumari , Rani Saheb of Lathi Ushadeviji, District Collector Mr.Nalin Upadhyay and Additional Collector Mr.Pankaj Thakar among others were present on the occasion.