BJP indulges in ‘selling’ yatra idea at Phagvel

Faced with the challenge thrown in by GPCC president Shankarsinh Vaghela, who is scheduled to visit the Bhathiji temple in Phagvel on September 3, the day the BJP Gaurav Rathyatra is set to flag off from Phagvel, state ministers have initiated a campaign to sell the "advantages" the Rathyatra can bring to the people and the village.

The BJP’s decision to commence the Rathyatra from Mr. Vaghela’s parliamentary constituency is likely to be met with resistance from the local people with the sarpanch of Phagvel Dahya Rathod putting in his lot behind Mr. Vaghela to solemnize a religious ceremony on the day of the Rathyatra.

"At present, there is only a 50 per cent change in the attitude of the people," a minister admitted, adding that they are gradually veering around to realising the benefits of staging of the Rathyatra there. "We expect that more people will turn up during the Rathyatra within a couple of days despite a hostile sarpanch Dahya Rathod of the village who is Vaghela’s man," the minister claimed.

Urban development minister in-charge of Kheda I.K. Jadeja, who has been visiting Phagvel on a daily basis, held meetings with local leaders and the Bhathiji temple trustees on Thursday to ensure a smooth commencement of the yatra. Mr. Jadeja, water resources minister Babu Bokhiria and minister of state for labour and employment Sundarsinh Chauhan toured the village along with Kapadvanj MLA and former minister Bimal Shah who had been dropped by Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the Cabinet and inspected the route of the yatra.

"The villagers are being told what Chief Minister Narendra Modi has done for them. Mr. Modi has given his nod for a 200 sq m land for the Thakor community students that will benefit the students from Phagvel. An in principle approval has been given to the proposal. Moreover, the Chief Minister has also agreed to create hostel facilities for the students of the community to study in Gandhinagar," BJP general secretary Jayanti Barot said. Mr. Barot said Thakor community and leader minister of state for jails Liladhar Vaghela, minister of state for civil aviation Prabhasinh Chauhan, minister of state for socially and economically backward classes Karsan Patel, minister of state for prohibition Dilipsinh Thakor and others will also visit Phagvel. They will highlight the work done by the Chief Minister for the community and especially convey that the board for the welfare of Thakors has been recently transformed into a corporation.

"The Rathyatra is likely to do wonders to the development of the place as a tourist destination. The place that is little known has already becoming the focus of national and local media coverage," a minister added.

Republished from The Asian Age