Vaghela to undertake fast on January 30

Ahmedabad, Jan 23 (UNI) Union Minister for Textiles Shankersinh Vaghela will go on a 52-hour fast from January 30 against Gujarat government's decision to relax the prohibition policy.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Vaghela said he will reach Kochrab Ashram at Paldi at noon on January 30 and from there leave at 1400 hours to commence his padyatra with Congressmen to Sabarmati Ashram, where he will begin his 52-hour fast at 1600 hours.

''It is unbecoming of the Modi government to slacken prohibition rules, when he talks about 'asmita' and 'Hindutva'', he said.

Terming the Modi government decision to relax prohibition in the state as ''mocking sisters of Gujarat,'' he said at 1700 hours there will be a prayer meeting coinciding with Gandhiji's death and a prayer will be conducted so that sat buddhi comes to the chief minister for killing ''darubandi. In Gandhi's Gujarat, Gandhi's 'vichaar' is being killed and this will be the theme of our satyagraha programme,'' he said.

The fast of Mr Vaghela will end on February one at 1600 hours.

Mr Bharatsinh Solanki, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief, said the Mahila Congress would stage protest against the state BJP government's decision on January 30 at four cities-- Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat. The Mahila Congress is also expected to launch a signature campaign and ask the people whether the decision of Modi government slackening prohibition was a right step.

Also on January 30, the leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Mr Arjun Modhwadia would sit on a 24-hour dharna at Porbandar.

UNI