Modi finds his voice again

‘‘Why are the celebrations under scrutiny? They (the critics) should be ashamed of themselves,’’ he said. ‘‘Gujarat and Gujaratis have contributed much to the nation. Why should not we celebrate for a day?’’

Vadodara, which has hosted grand celebrations for the first time, will now get to organise the silver jubilee of Gujarat Gaurav Day, after it has been organised in other cities and towns of the state, he said. Future venues of the annual celebration will get a city museum and a theme museum each.

The crowd at the sprawling Navlakhi compound was much smaller than anticipated, though many were brought from all across the district in hired vehicles. The sparse crowd, separated by close to 200 meters from the huge dais accommodating the entire Cabinet and many others, clapped only on occasion, but that did not deter the chief minister who thundered along.

‘‘There were people who used bombs, lathis and pistols to prevent Gujarat from becoming a separate state. Many became martyrs to the cause,’’ he said. ‘‘Nothing has changed: they used bullets (golis), now they are using abuses (galis)…Several Narendra Modis will come and go, but Gujarat will remain forever.’’

Modi spoke of development, reeling out figures of road lengths laid, per capita income, energy consumption, number of doctors, and so forth. ‘‘After the earthquake Gujarat bounced back in two years, but Latur could not do so even a decade after,’’ he said, describing how the state had fared better in comparison to neighbouring states. ‘‘Bhopal is thirsty for water though the Narmada is only 45 kms away. And in Gujarat Narmada water has been taken 700 km to Jamnagar in 500 days,’’ he said.

He even quoted Bill Clinton to drive home the point that Gujaratis had done well in all spheres abroad. ‘‘I will think of Gujarat and only Gujarat. If we don’t perform you throw us out after five years,’’ he roared. ‘‘I am one of you, one of the five crore. Let’s walk shoulder to shoulder.’’

Late in the night, a cultural function was organised to give away awards to Gujarati actors and others from the film industry.