Ahmedabad, 27 November, 2011

Chief Minister Narendra Modi today complimented six-crore Gujaratis for the overwhelming support he has so far received for his Sadbhavna Mission which has crushed the daydreams of vested interests out to malign Gujarat. The mission is to showcase to the world the strength of people’s unity, peace and harmony.

Rounding up his daylong fast as p art of the district-wise Sadbhavna Misison at Rajpipla in Narmada district, he said that Gujarat’s development model hotly being pursued for the last decade is now capable of taking the nation out of an atmosphere of gloom and dejection that prevailed till recently. Gujarat would march on whatever might be the musings of the adversaries.

It was his ninth day-long fast at the district-level since he had launched the state-wide Sadbhavna Mission from Ahmedabad. It was attended by people from far off villages in Nandod, Tilakwada, Dediapada and Sagbara talukas in the predominantly tribal belt.

Overwhelmed by nearly 8,000 people joining him in his ‘tapasya’ at the venue of the fast, the Chief Minister said that he is now convinced that the people of Gujarat living in family, villages and society in large would thwart any move to malign Gujarat. The word ‘Gujarat’ has now become synonymous with ‘development’.

Mr. Modi s aid that the past rulers have banked on the politics of vote bank too long since Independence for the last 60 years, trying to divide the nation and state by caste and community, being oblivion to the real problems and plight of the people. The tribal bore the brunt of the neglect. The Congress p arty during t heir 40 years’ rule did not open a single school with science stream in the tribal areas.

He said that his government has opened at least one higher secondary school in science stream in each and every tribal taluka during the last ten years. The government has started ‘Sakhi Mandal’ for economic empowerment of women, now handling assorted tiny and cottage industries worth Rs.1,400-crore annually.

The Chief Minister announced on the occasion new development works totaling Rs.333-crore for the Narmada district.