Anti-Modi ads appear on Assembly poll eve

The advertisements have appeared just a day before the second phase of elections in North and Central Gujarat regions.

On the eve of the crucial second phase of Assembly elections in Gujarat, advertisements carrying semi-naked pictures of women dancing during last year8217;s Vibrant Gujarat summit have appeared in some local dailies in Ahmedabad.

The advertisements published in colour by Sardar Seva Utakarsh Samiti criticises the BJP government in the state, which had sponsored the event.

8216;This is Modi8217;s culture8217;, stated the advertisement which shows five photographs of semi-nude women dancers of foreign origin performing during Vibrant Gujarat summit 8211; Chief Minister Narendra Modi8217;s pet bi-annual project organised to woo investors to the state which coincided with last year8217;s Navrati festival.

8220;For Hindu society, Navratri means devotion to the Mother Goddess, homage to women power. It is Gujarat8217;s pride and Gujarat8217;s cultural festival,8221; the advertisement said.

8220;On the other side, naked song and dance is Modi8217;s culture. It is an insult to Mother Goddess and an insult to Gujarat,8221; it said.

The advertisement asks the electorates not to vote for Modi who depicts women in this manner.

The publisher stated in the advertisement: 8220;We are saddened to publish these photographs, but this is the true face of administrators with perverted minds8221;.

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These dances had kicked up a storm during the 2006 Vibrant Gujarat summit.

The advertisements have appeared just a day before the second phase of elections in North and Central Gujarat regions.

In the past few days, a series of advertisements were being published by Congress, BJP and Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti to send a political message to the people in the poll-bound state.

The BJP had tried to question Congress8217; steadfastness to check terrorism through its advertisements asking why Afzal Guru has not been hanged while the Congress hit back with ads carrying pictures of Masood Azhar, reminding people how the BJP-led NDA government had gone to Kandhar to release dreaded terrorists.