Ahmedabad, 25 April 2013

Gujarat Chief Minister’s 26 April visit to Haridwar in Uttaranchal state is happening at a time when elections of Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital municipal corporations are near. Voting for these local bodies is scheduled to be held on 28 April. Though Modi’s visit is taking place just for inauguration of Baba Ramdev’s Gurukul school, and it has nothing to do with state politics directly, the ruling Congress party in Uttaranchal has announced protest programme to oppose the visit. Reacting to this BJP has criticized Congress.

Congress in Uttarakhand has announced that the party will oppose the visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to Haridwar on April 26.

Calling Modi a “symbol of communalism”, Pradesh Congress Spokesman Dhirendra Pratap said black flag wielding party workers will stage a march from Chandrachari Chowk to Bhagat Singh Chowk in Haridwar to protest the Gujarat CM’s visit to the state.

State Congress chief Yashpal Arya has directed party workers to vehemently oppose Modi’s visit, Pratap, who would lead the march in Haridwar, said.

Meanwhile opposition BJP in Uttarakhand on Thursday criticised ruling Congress for its decision to boycott NarendraModi’s visit to Haridwar tomorrow, saying it reflects the party’s frustration at the growing popularity of the Gujarat Chief Minister and its narrow-mindedness.

“At a time when Modi has emerged as the most popular leader in the country and his development model is being praised not only nation-wide, but all over the world, the Congress’ decision to boycott his visit to Uttarakhand is unfortunate,” senior BJP leader and former Speaker of Uttarakhand state assembly Harbans Kapoor told reporters here.

Condemning Congress’ remarks that Modi is a “symbol of communalism,” Kapoor warned the party not to forget the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which some of its prominent leaders are facing trial.

Asking the Congress not to boycott Modi’s visit, the BJP leader warned that any insult to Modi will eclipse the prospects of the party in the forthcoming civic body polls slated for April 28.

“May wisdom dawn upon Congress workers and they desist from showing black flags to Modi. I hope the party displays some regard for the age-old Indian tradition of welcoming guests,” Kapoor said.

PCC spokesman Dhirendra Pratap announced yesterday that the party will boycott Modi’s visit to Haridwar by staging a black flags protest march in the city, saying the party viewed him as the “symbol of communalism.”

The BJP leader said, “In the true tradition of Devbhoomi, (Uttarakhand) we welcome our guest, who scored a hat-trick in Gujarat due to his good governance (Modi) with open arms.”

He said the UPA is hit by a new scam almost on a regular basis and it has failed to act against corruption.

He also accused the Centre of not taking a tough stand against “hostile neighbours” like Pakistan and not taking the issue of Chinese incursion into Indian territory seriously.

“Not retail, 2014 will witness wholesale voting”