Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who came in for praise by Anna Hazare, on Monday said the social activist may now be subjected to a "vilification" campaign by a certain group "inimical" to Gujarat.
"On Sunday I heard about your blessings for me and my state. I fear that you will be subjected to vilification. A certain group inimical to Gujarat will not let go this opportunity to malign your love, sacrifice, penance and commitment to truth. They will try to tarnish your name because you spoke well of me and my state," Modi said in an open letter to Hazare.
Hazare, who led a successful campaign for the Lokpal Bill had said on Sunday that "the way the chief ministers of Gujarat and Bihar have worked in their states, this should be emulated by other chief ministers".
Listing various examples, Modi said "you may be aware that whosoever talks good of Gujarat, he or she will be subjected to the vilification campaign".
Earlier, a senior Muslim parliamentarian from Kerala belonging to CPI(M) P Abdulla Kutty was ostracised from the party after he praised Gujarat’s development, he recalled.
Superstar Amitabh was also attacked by this same group when he had worked for a video promoting Gujarat tourism.
Maulana Ghulam Vastanavi of Gujarat, who was elected as head of the Darul Uloom of Deoband, had also come in for criticism when he praised Gujarat's development, Modi pointed out.
Recently, Major General I.S. Sinha of Golden Katara Division of Indian Army, too was flayed by the same forces when he praised the development of Gujarat and there was even a demand for disciplinary action against him, Modi said.
"Gujarat’s developmental journey is an anathema to thisgroup bent upon heaping calumny on my state. Whenever the name of Gujarat is mentioned, these forces immediately swing into action to spread canards and falsehoods", Modi alleged.
"I am still afraid that this group will put you in trouble. May God give you strength," Modi said adding, "Gujarat’s six crore people do not want that the same group should sadden you".
"I and my state of Gujarat are indebted to you for the courage and conviction you showed in saying good words for me and my state. In this show of courage, you exhibited commitment to truth and a soldier-like conviction," he said.
"In this delicate moment, I should say that I come from a simple family and am a common man too. In my family, no one is even distantly connected to politics or remains close to power. I do not have illusions that I am a perfect individual. Like a common man, I too have my own limitations, good and bad qualities," Modi wrote.