Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla said Modi's personal interest has made the programme spectacular and impressive.
Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla today praised Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in popularising the Kite Festival, saying his personal interest has made the programme spectacular and impressive.
While flagging off the 22nd International Kite Festival along with Modi at the Sabarmati Riverfront here today, the Governor said, "Makar Sankranti has a unique place in Gujarat's tradition, more particularly for Ahmedabad city. The festival, in social terms, has become a symbol of unity and brotherhood."
"The programme (Kite festival) has been grand and spectacular. People have applauded it. For the awareness it has generated and the environment it has created, the efforts of the chief minister and his colleagues need to be appreciated," Dr Kamla said in her address.
"I would like to wish all the people of Gujarat a happy Makar Sankranti, especially the chief minister, who takes personal interest in all these programmes and because of which, they become so spectacular and impressive," she added.
The statement assumes significance in the backdrop of the stand-off between the Modi-government and the Governor over the appointment of the state Lokayukta by the latter.
The state government had approached the Gujarat High Court opposing the Governor's decision of appointing retired Justice RA Mehta as the state Lokayukta. The matter is still pending.
Modi had even written to the Prime Minister last September demanding Dr Kamla be recalled from the state. He had alleged that she had acted in an unconstitutional manner in appointing the Lokayukta without the aide and advice of the council of ministers of the state government.
Talking about the Kite festival further, the Governor said, "In real sense, the festival highlights the glorious cultural traditions of Gujarat."
According to a report, Ahmedabad Kite festival was among the top five most popular Kite festivals in the world out of the two dozen such festivals, she added.
Modi too thanked the Governor for her presence and wishes for the Kite festival in his speech.
He said that the Ahmedabad Kite festival has now found its place in the international festivals of the world.
Gujarat Tourism minister Jaynarayan Vyas, in his welcome address, said that the festival will launch Gujarat on the tourism map of India.
Vyas said that the festival has gone beyond being a tourism event. "The festival has given a boost to the kite manufacturing industry in Gujarat, which employs over six thousand people."
"A survey in 2007 had estimated the kite manufacturing industry in Gujarat to be worth Rs 100 crore. If extrapolation is done on that figure, today the industry would around Rs 175 crore giving employment to thirty thousand people in Ahmedabad alone," Vyas said.
As many as 300 kite fliers would participate in the three-day festival, including 81 kite fliers from 24 countries, 120 from nine state of the country and local fliers from different parts of the Gujarat.
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