Godhra, January 20: Once a epitome of massacre modi now wants to change his image as a sole trustee of GANDHI Gujarat. Modi wants to attract Gujrati Muslims and launched his yatra on friday hoping to have a soothing effect on Muslims. Modi is haunted for his role in Gujarat massacre of Muslims in 2002 and his dream of ruling India is beeing shattered by constant haunting of court orders on his role in gujarat riots.Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will sit on a day-long fast on Friday in Godhra as part of his ‘Sadbhavna Mission’ aimed at building bridges between communities and strengthening peace and harmony.
The Sadbhavna Mission has travelled through many cities in the state after it was launched in Ahmedabad on September 17. But its Godhra stop is the most significant as the town was at epicentre of the communal riots that had engulfed the state in 2002.
Timing is also important as the fast comes nearly a month before the 10th anniversary of Godhra carnage where 59 people, mostly karsevaks, were killed when the Sabarmati Express train was burnt on February 27, 2002. The fire from Godhra had spread to other parts of the state leading to the death of hundreds of people.
Considering the sensitive equations in the town, the state government is not taking any chances and has deployed over 15000 policemen in and around the fast venue.
Local BJP leaders expect a crowd of over 50,000 to attend the event.
Meanwhile, state Congress leader and some NGOs have also drawn up plans to hold a parallel fast near Modi’s fast venue to protest against his fast.