Dr Kanubhai Kalsariya, who has been at loggerheads with CM over rights of farmers, will be observing a fast in the city at the same time as Modi
It will be Sadbhavana with a difference in Bhavnagar on Saturday. BJP MLA from Mahuva, Dr Kanubhai Kalsariya, will be sitting on a Samvedna fast in Bhavnagar city on Saturday, barely 2 km from chief minister Narendra Modi’s grand fast venue.
Dr Kalsariya has been at loggerheads with Modi for over two years now over allotment of fertile agricultural land in his constituency to Nirma for a cement factory. He is perhaps the only BJP legislator to openly criticise the chief minister for his industrial policies.
It will be interesting to see how this face-off between Dr Kalsariya and Modi plays out on the former’s home turf. Earlier, when Dr Kalsariya’s decision to observe a ‘Samvedna’ fast against Modi’s Sadbhavna fast was announced, the Mahuva MLA was reportedly asked by senior BJP leaders to call it off or face action.
However, when Dr Kalsariya refused to give in, state BJP
president RC Faldu stated that no action was being taken against him “yet”.
Later, however, a shaken BJP struck back more subtly. For about three days, police permission was not granted for the Samvedna fast. On Thursday evening, permission was finally granted but with several riders. Despite the police permission, however, Dr Kalsariya’s supporters are afraid he will be illegally detained by the police. The fast will commence at 10 am and end at 7 pm.
Dr Kalsariya, however, insists that he is not protesting against Modi’s Sadbhavana fast but will be fasting in support of farmers and fishermen’s rights being violated by the government’s pro-industry policies.
He does not want to comment on the number of people likely to join his fast.
The state government’s facility is ready to accommodate upto 10,000 supporters. Former finance minister Sanat Mehta and activist Chuni Vaidya will be accompanying Dr Kalsariya.
Thousands of farmers and fishermen from Bhavnagar, Kutch, Jamnagar and even from as far away as Valsad and Olpad are likely to come in support of Dr Kalsariya. Significantly, Saurashtra Kisan Sangh, the local unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) farmers’ body, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, is keenly supporting the Mahuva MLA in his fast.
the Mahuva MLA appear to be in conflict over the brand Sadbhavana! Dr Kalsariya, who is a surgeon by profession, had named his two hospitals, 'Sadbhavana Hospitals', about 20 years ago. Moreover, in zilla and taluka elections last year, Dr Kalsariya had fielded a panel under the brand name, 'Sadbhavana', against the BJP. His panel won 11 of the total 26 seats in the taluka election and 4 of the 17 seats in zilla polls. Meanwhile, the Congress will also be holding its signature 'Satkarma' programme in Bhavnagar city at the same time.
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