Williams’s visit to the state later this month will, in all likelihood, set off a tug of war between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress.
AHMEDABAD: American astronaut Sunita Williams’s journey to space may have been smoother than the trip she plans to her family home in Gujarat. Williams’s visit to the state later this month will, in all likelihood, set off a tug of war between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress.
After refraining from acknowledging her achievements at any public forum for all these months, chief minister Narendra Modi issued a statement on Sunday which said that Williams will be a state guest, and will be provided with requisite security.
Earlier, the Congress had slammed Modi for ignoring the astronaut because of his personal rivalry with her cousin, the slain BJP leader Haren Pandya.
Williams’s father Deepak Pandya hails from Ahmedabad and Modi is usually the first to find a Gujarat connection to any global feat. But while the whole country was celebrating Williams’s return, Modi maintained a studied silence.
There was reportedly an ugly face-off between the leader of opposition and health minister Ashok Bhatt over the issue. A recent publication by the health department lists Gujarat’s women achievers, but Williams has no place in it.
However, the latest show of support from BJP, it is believed, comes because Modi does not want to be caught on the wrong foot politically.
“When Sunita is here, security will be a prime concern. The government doesn’t want any untoward incident so close to the elections,’’ said CK Patel, a Congress leader and the president of National Federation of Indian-American Associations.
Williams’s uncle and Haren Pandya’s father Vitthal tried to downplay the controversy. “We are glad Modi is extending the government’s support though he hasn’t acknowledged her achievements personally.”
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