CM’s fast a ‘circus’,says Mallika

Calling CM Narendra Modi’s planned fast a “circus” and a waste of taxpayers’ money,danseuse and activist Mallika Sarabhai has called upon all who care to join in feeding children and others from the city’s slums to highlight the state’s “deplorable” malnutrition and anaemia statistics.

Addressing the media on Thursday,Sarabhai said Modi’s proposed fast should have been Ukvaas,personal fast as a salutation to God,but it has been turned into a “circus” by the CM who has chosen a “five-star” venue.

She invited anyone interested to join her with food or money,saying the move is not a charity event but a way of highlighting Gujarat’s economically unequal society,referring to the state’s human development statistics.

She said she has already put aside enough money to feed 200 children two meals for a day — about Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 — and the feeding campaign would begin at 11 am on Saturday at Gurjari bazaar,Ahmedabad’s Sunday flea market. ENS