Ahmedabad, March 20
The Election Commission today stalled midway the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi-led controversial Narmada poojan yatra for violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The EC held that the action of Mr Modi amounts to ‘‘influencing the electorate in favour of the party in power” and hence ordered the stoppage of the yatra immediately.
The yatra was called to mark the permission to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
The yatra was stopped this afternoon at Dabhoi before it could reach the dam site located at Kevadia in Vadodara district.
Confirming this, state BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha Member Jayantibhai Barot told UNI over the phone that the decision was taken in view of the Election Commission’s directive in this regard. ‘‘We are returning to Ahmedabad from Dabhoi (Vadodara district) itself,’’ he added.
The 299-km yatra was started amidst fanfare late last night with Mr Modi’s public meeting in the Bapunagar area here. It was scheduled to pass through 15 towns in four districts and as many Lok Sabha constituencies, before reaching the dam site at Kevadia, about 50 km from Dabhoi, late this evening.
Asked if any complaints were made to the Election Commission against this yatra, Mr Barot said, “We don’t know. We will have to find out’’.
The main opposition Congress had criticised the yatra yesterday, alleging that the BJP was violating the Model Code of Conduct. GPCC president B. K. Gadhvi had said the BJP was appropriating the Congress party’s efforts to bring the major dam to fruition. —
UNI
