Eight months after Godhra, caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s rath is all set to roll into the town where it all began. The ninth phase of Modi’s Gaurav Yatra, which begins on November 11, will pass through Godhra. Though Modi is not likely to cover any ‘‘major minority-dominated area, the state police is not taking any chances. Godhra Superintendent of Police Narsimha Komar said additional forces had already been sought from Gandhinagar. ‘‘Adequate arrangements have been made all along, from Goghambha to Halol,’’ he said.In its ninth phase, the Yatra will cover two municipal corporations — Vadodara and Surat. Party sources said the high command wants the Yatra to be over by the end of this month, which is why the process has been ‘‘hastened’’.On day one, the yatra take off Dakor and will cover Thasara, Balasinor, Shera, Godhra, Kalol, Goghambha and Halol before it halts for the night in Vadodara. On day two, it will pass through Vada, Padra, Karjan, Jambusar, Amod, Vhagara, Bharuch, Jagadia, Ankleshwar and Hasto before it reaches Surat city. Vadodara Police Commissioner D.D. Tuteja said: ‘‘We are yet to receive the detailed programme of where the Yatra will pass, but we will deploy adequate police personnel to prevent any untoward incident.’’Godhra SP Komar said the yatra will come to Shera through the Lunawada-Godhra road where Modi and BJP state president Rajendrasinh Rana will address a meeting at New Era School ground, which has a capacity of 50,000.Convener of the yatra said with less then 35 constituencies — 12 in Ahmedabad city — left, the party intends to complete the yatra in two more phases. He said he will confer with senior leaders, including Rana, next Friday before finalising the tenth phase which will probably begin from November 15 and cover Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Jamnagar municipal corporations. In its last phase, the yatra is likely to cover Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and nearby areas.
