Modi's 'five star' fast a gimmick, says Gujarat unit of Congress

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The Congress party has termed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's three-day fast from September 17 a political gimmick.

Senior Congress leader Shankar Singh Vaghela on Thursday said: "Modi is going on a 5-star fast in an air-conditioned hall."

Vaghela also announced a parallel fast during the same period.

"Shankarsinh Vaghela will lead and other Congress leaders will also join him in the fast against Modi. It will start from September 17 at Sabarmati Ashram," Gujarat Congress sources said.

The sources said that to 'out-fast' Modi, Congress leaders' will fast 'two hours longer' than his.

Buoyed by the Supreme Court's ruling in Gulberg Society riot case, Modi had yesterday announced he would undertake a three-day fast for peace, harmony and unity in the state.

Modi said his fast would be a part of a 'Sadbhavna (goodwill) Mission'.

"Looking at his track record, Modi has no right to speak of Sadbhavna. We will expose him through our fast," a senior Congress leader said.

"The main issue this time is corruption of Modi government and to divert attention of the people from the issue, Modi has undertaken this fast. But we will bring the focus back to corruption in his administration as an issue in our fast," a Congress leader said.

Political rivalry between Modi and Vaghela dates back to the time when both of them were in the BJP.

Vaghela left BJP and formed his own party called the Rashtriya Janata Party in 1996.

He later joined the Congress.

After his defeat in 2009 Lok Sabha elections to BJP candidate from Godhra seat, Vaghela was sidelined in the Congress.

However, he was appointed as head of the party''s campaign committee for Gujarat elections on September 2, after which he announced that he would fight Modi tooth and nail in the state elections scheduled in December 2012.