After spoke in wheel, Vaghela promises Modi head-on collision

As if on cue, Modi suddenly went missing from Phagvel. A huge cutout occupying pride of place was today burnt down, while many pro-Modi hoardings dotting the village disappeared.

Along the way — almost a 65-km stretch — Vaghela addressed villagers, denouncing the Gaurav Yatra and claiming it should be called ‘‘Kalank Yatra’’.

‘‘Earlier the BJP was out to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims, but now it’s creating a divide between Hindus,’’ he said.

Hoardings asking Modi to go back ‘‘as he had failed to provide protection to cows’’ had been put up along the route by Bhathi Sena. Congress workers shouted slogans saying ‘‘Dekho dekho kaun aaya, Modi tera baap aaya’’ and ‘‘Bhag Bhajap Bapu avya, Bhag Sarkar Bapu avya’’. Leading a procession of trucks, Vaghela categorically said his programme was non-political.

Security had been beefed up in order to avoid any untoward incident. In all, 5,000 policemen were deployed in the district. SRP jawans and policemen stood guard along the yatra route while two police mobiles followed Vaghela.

On Tuesday, Vaghela will hoist a 52-yard dhvaj (flag) in honour of Bhathiji Maharaj after organising a havan. He will also address a dharmasabha, where he will ‘‘announce the plan for September 7’’.

‘‘The people of Gujarat are against Gaurav Yatra because they had nothing to be proud about during the four and a half years of BJP rule. If he (Modi) claims that he stopped the yatra because sadhus and sants asked him to do so, these very sants want him to call off the yatra. Why doesn’t he listen?’’ the GPCC chief said.

Lambasting the BJP for turning a ‘‘temple into a battlefield’’, he said: ‘‘The number of jawans deployed in Phagvel is certainly more then the number of jawans at the border. The BJP is working to divide society while we are dedicated to uniting it.’’

When asked whether he had permission from the state government for his programme, he said: ‘‘We need permission from Bhathiji Maharaj and not the government. Do I need to ask the government when and what to eat?’’