Snubbed, Modi sticks to safe topics

He was a transformed man at Tarnetar today. A day after the National Minority Commission asked for the script of caretaker Chief Minister Na...

He was a transformed man at Tarnetar today. A day after the National Minority Commission asked for the script of caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at Phagvel, Modi restrained himself from making any controversial comment at Tarnetar mela.

At Modi’s much-hyped Gaurav Yatra on September 9, he had made adverse comments against Muslims and targeted Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s Italian lineage — like Italian spectacles, Italy ki Beti and tolky.

After offering prayers at the temple, where GPCC president Shankersinh Vaghela had hoisted a 52-yard-long flag on Tuesday, Modi addressed a huge gathering which had thronged the mela on the occasion of Rushi Panchami.

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	‘When did Modi say hum panch, humare pachchis’
AHMEDABAD: Following the furore over Modi’s reported ‘‘anti-Muslim’’ remarks at Becharaji in Mehsana district, Gaurav Yatra convenor Jayanti Barot on Wednesday denied that Modi had made any such statement. ‘‘I was with him all through and the statements reported by media were distorted,’’ he said. (ENS)

However, like Vaghela who flagged off his annual Shobha Yatra from here, Modi did not receive the traditional welcome.

To touch villagers’ hearts, Modi focused on the rich cultural heritage of the region. The mela ‘‘held where Lord Shiva is residing, it’s the scared place where people from all over the world come to see our culture’’, he said. He added, ‘‘And I want to take pride in this.’’

This was the only statement he mentioned which was related to Gaurav Yatra.

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Clad in traditional wear including safa and bandi gifted by the organisers, Modi mentioned Shahboodin Rathod, a writer, as his Gaurav. While many were expecting that Modi would fire salvos on all the ‘‘so called secular force against him’’, he instead talked about the WTC tragedy.

Later, talking to mediapersons he was asked to comment on remarks made by Vaghela who had said that he would remain ahead of Modi everywhere. Modi said, ‘‘Vaghela is like my elder brother. And I wish he remains ahead of me everywhere.’’

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