‘With sorrow’, Narendra Modi asks for recall of 'Matru Swarupa' governor

Gujarat BJP on Sunday came out with an open charge-sheet against governor Dr Kamla, accusing her of conspiring with the opposition Congress to harass and destabilise the state government, even as chief minister Narendra Modi demanded her recall.

“I have always looked upon governor Dr Kamla as Matru Swarupa. But we have been forced to come out with the resolution seeking her recall in view of her actions. We demand her recall with a heavy heart and a lot of sorrow,” the chief minister said, while addressing BJP’s Maha Rally at Vastral on Sunday.

Going by size, the Maha Rally could be best described as a disappointment. The BJP was targeting a gathering of at least 5 to 6 lakh people, and the CM even said once in his speech that 5 lakh people were present. However, the number of people present was not more than 50,000 - 60,000.

Modi started his speech by saying that the Maha Rally was an important event in the country's politics. He described the large presence as a charge-sheet against the Delhi Sultanate (Union government). "Upholding the governor's decorum is our priority.

Since 2009, we had maintained a stoic silence to maintain the governor's dignity. We swallowed bitter pills, because we were only interested in the state's development. But, we have been forced to speak because some people mistook our humility as our weakness," he said.

The CM lashed out at the Congress saying the party was trying to run a parallel government in the state by misusing the governor's office. He described the Congress as a burden on the country. He added that even prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, a person with impeccable integrity, couldn't escape the corrupt ways of the Congress.