'Modi wants to prove he's minorities' messiah by his fast'

The Congress in Gujarat on Thursday ridiculed Chief Minister Narendra Modi's proposed fast for peace, harmony and unity in the state saying all he wants to do is to project himself as a "messiah" of the minorities.

"The Gujarat chief minister, interpreting the Supreme Court order as he has been declared innocent, has announced a three-day fast. Now, he wants to project himself as a messiah of minorities by undertaking such a fast and wants to show that he is their protector," Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela told newsmen in Ahmedabad.

To counter Modi's fast from September 17, Vaghela and Gujarat Pradesh Congres Committee President Arjun Modhvadia have announced a parallel fast at the same time.

"If there is a justifiable cause for fast by the chief minister, we can understand it. But he is saying that this fast is for sadbhavna. But his fast is based on farce, falsehood and corruption," Vaghela claimed.

"Our fast will be held on the footpath outside Sabarmati ashram and will be a fast of the common man but the fast of Modi will be a five star air-conditioned fast as he is planning to do it in the convention hall of Gujarat University," he said.       

"Through our fast, we will highlight the issues of corruption under Modi's rule and if he extends his fast, we will also do it," he further said.

Modhvadia and other leaders released an open letter seeking Modi's answer as to why he is undertaking such a fast.