The Jan Chetna Yatra travelled 400 km from Vapi to Ahmedabad traversing through several districts in the last two days.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly denied that there was any rift between him and senior BJP leader LK Advani. Modi said in no uncertain terms that the reported rifts were untrue, and heaped lavish praises on his mentor.
The media had reported on Sunday about the cold vibes and uneasy body language of the two leaders on the first day of Advani's Jan Chetna Yatra in Gujarat. The fact that Modi declined to sit next to Advani on the dais at the public meeting in Vapi on Sunday morning added fuel to the fire. The CM, however, decided to clear the air in Bharuch on Monday.
The gathering was a modest 5,000 or so, but that didn't deter Modi from going on the offensive over the issue. He categorically denied any rift between him and said he had great respect for the senior BJP leader. He also heaped lavish praises on the former deputy prime minister.
Training his guns on the media, Modi accused it of sensationalising trivial matters. He also alleged that such reports were being carried at the behest of Delhi Sultanate, who were influencing the media houses.
It was later Advani's turn to claim that there was no rift between him and his one-time protégé.
"The people of Gujarat know Modi for ten years since he became the CM, but I have known him and also worked closely with him since the days he was general secretary of BJP. The party is still reaping the benefits of his efforts," Advani said.
He described Modi as extremely popluar and capable, his long-time companion, and described his government in Gujarat as a model government. Advani also came down heavily on the Congress party. He described the party as corrupt, and also accused it of promoting dynastic politics. Referring to the high inflation, Advani said the UPA government was insensitive to the problems faced by the citizens.
In his address, Modi urged the citizens to finish the Congress party to slay the demon of corruption.
The yatra started from Surat on the second and final day of its Gujarat leg. It passed through Ankleshwar, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand and Nadiad, before finally culminating at Ahmedabad.
Addressing public meetings in Vadodara and Anand, Modi equated the Congress party with corruption, and called upon citizens to teach a lesson to the party. He also said that the Jan Chetna Yatra was not against any party, but to free the country from the clutches of corruption.
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