Gujarat Governor stays away from Kite Festival function

For the first time in almost a decade, in an unprecedented move, the Governor of Gujarat Dr Shrimati Kamla today stayed away from the International Kite Festival inaugural function at Sabarmati river front in Ahmedabad. Governor’s message was read out in the function in her absence.

The Governor was to preside the function according to invitation card.

According to sources, the Governor has left the state two days before, citing engagements in Delhi and Jaipur.

The sources confirmed that the state government had sent the invitation to the Governor to preside over the inaugural ceremony of the kite festival well in advance, however the governor conveyed to the government that she was not in a position to attend it. The invitation cards were already printed when Governor refused to come to the pragramme. The government had given a thought to reprint the invitation cards. However on Chief Minister’s directive, it was decided to go on with the old cards only – the cards that mentioned Governor’s name as President of the function.

Last week when state spokesperson minister Jaynarayan Vyas announced details of the International Kite Festival, he had also mentioned that state Governor would preside the inaugural function.

Last month, media persons observed that in inaugural function of 17th Indian National Children Science Congress, the Governor skipped Chief Minister’s name during her address even-though the fact that it was mentioned in written copy of her speech that she was reading out.