Vaghela ends 52-hour fast

Ahmedabad, Feb 1 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and Union Textiles Minister Shankersinh Vaghela today ended his 52-hour-long fast undertaken to protest against the state government's move to relax the prohibition policy for Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Mr Vaghela, who had been sitting on a dharna since January 30 outside the Sabarmati Ashram here broke his fast after accepting a glass of fruit juice from a religious leader.

Addressing a large gathering, he vowed to carry forward this campaign to all corners of the state. Accusing Chief Minister Narendra Modi of ''forgetting Ram and going after rum'', Mr Vaghela said, ''He has misused the votes that people gave him. Now it is upto the people to take the next step.'' He castigated religious leaders in the state for not coming out openly in support of the campaign. ''They need not share the same platform with us but should come out openly against it. They owe this much to the people. In a democracy, one has to take sides and there is nothing wrong in it,'' he said.

Admitting that he himself had tasted all types of liquor outside the state, Mr Vaghela said, ''From experience, I can say that it is not good for any of us.'' Later, the Congress leader told reporters that his party unit will now move to smaller towns and villages and take the issue to the people.

Asked if his protest was to put pressure on the Modi government on the issue, he said, ''When Mahatma Gandhi undertook his satyagraha, it took years to have its impact on the British government. I hope, with the kind of public opinion we have generated, the Gujarat government gets some wisdom and retracts its move.'' Apart from the state Congress, several Gandhian organisations like Gujarat Lok Samiti, Gujarat Vidyapeeth, and hosts of NGOs including SEWA, AWAG and Janpath took part in the campaign.

UNI