AHMEDABAD: The Pradesh Congress Committee has taken exception to Chief Minister Narendra Modi "violating" all norms of protocol in sending a junior Minister to deputise for him at an official function in Porbandar on Thursday in which President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam took part.

As the `International kite festival' was to be opened in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Mr. Modi authorised Minister of State for Labour and Employment Mulu Bera to represent the Cabinet at the inauguration of the Sandipani Science Gallery in Porbandar. Most Cabinet Ministers were asked to be present at the kite festival, being held as part of the `Vibrant Gujarat' celebrations.

However, Mr. Modi sent senior Minister Anandiben Patel for Mr. Kalam's lecture on "21st century's higher education in India" at Saurashtra University in Rajkot. Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma, however, accompanied the President at both functions.

Pradesh Congress spokesman Hasmukh Patel said the presidential protocol demanded that the Chief Minister remain present. In case he was pre-occupied, he should deputise a senior Cabinet Minister to represent him. But Mr. Modi had flouted "all norms of protocol and decent behaviour" by deputing Mr. Bera, a junior Minister. This only demonstrated his "arrogance."

"Highly objectionable"

Pointing out that it amounted to an insult to the President's office and the country, Mr. Patel said Mr. Modi's behaviour was "highly objectionable." The Congress would lodge a strong protest on Friday and draw the attention of the Prime Minister's Office, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Governor for necessary action.

When contacted, the Chief Minister's secretariat, however, disagreed there was any controversy. The Chief Minister's Additional Secretary, Pankaj Kumar, claimed that the protocol did not differentiate between senior and junior Ministers. "There is nothing like any controversy in it. We know how to extend a warm welcome to the President," he said.

Sources close to Mr. Modi said he was very unhappy over Mr. Kalam turning down his invitation to inaugurate the kite festival. The Presidential Secretariat had not given any reason for Mr. Kalam not accepting the offer. His acceptance of Dr. Ramesh Oza's invitation to inaugurate the science gallery and to deliver the lecture only showed his liking for science and kinship with students.

Opening the science gallery, Mr. Kalam called for a synthesis of modern astronomy and mathematics with the ancient astronomical science of India. The country must bring back its past glory in astronomy and other branches of science, he said.

21 countries represented

In Ahmedabad, 59 expert kite fliers from 21 countries, including Italy, France, the United Kingdom, China, Japan and Thailand, and about 80 experts from different parts of the country participated in the kite festival. Inaugurating the festivities, organised by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Mr. Modi lambasted the Congress for "spreading canards" against Gujarat. The Congress criticism about Gujarat lagging in industrial development demonstrated their lack of confidence in their own Government in Delhi. "If you do not have confidence in your own Government, why should the people have confidence in you," Mr. Modi asked. He claimed the investment figures released by the Centre proved that Gujarat was in the number one spot in the country and even led Maharashtra in the last three years.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail