BJP Fast: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani observes fast in Gandhinagar

— By FPJ Web Desk | Apr 12, 2018 05:22 pm

In a tit-for-tat fast, PM Narendra Modi, BJP MPs and other party workers to observe a fast on Thursday to ‘expose’ the Opposition for disrupting Parliament during the budget session. This comes after Congress President Rahul Gandhi staged a protest by observing a day-long fast at Rajghat. The protest was against caste-based violence, communalism, and non-functioning of Parliament, for which the Congress blames the ruling BJP.

While interacting with BJP MPs, MLAs and other people’s representatives on “Gram Swaraj Abhiyan” through the medium of the audio bridge, the Prime Minister said it was the responsibility of the party leaders and workers to bring the sin of those who strangled democracy before the nation by observing a day-long fast.

“Tomorrow’s date is 12th. You know how a handful of people, who don’t want the country to move forward, held the Parliament hostage. Those who couldn’t gain power in 2014 didn’t let Parliament work for a single day,” Prime Minister Modi said yesterday.


The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday also clarified that the tour programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s delegation for April 12, which is being circulated on social media, was prepared before the latter’s fast was announced.

PMO source told ANI, “The current tour program has no breakfast or lunch on board.” BJP President Amit Shah will also join the protest in Karnataka. The BJP has blamed the Congress and Sonia Gandhi for the disruptions that meant that the Budget session of Parliament was a lost cause.

Live Updates

05.22 pm: BJP MP from Delhi Manoj Tiwari was attended by a doctor while observing a day-long fast called by the party over issue of disruptions in Parliament,says, ‘I had recently undergone a laser operation for stone,so there is some pain.But my pain is not bigger than the pain of public’ pic.twitter.com/Vi5oLtCsqT

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2018

03.27 pm: Have joined the nationwide #FastWithPMModi movement at Hanuman Mandir, New Delhi, along with BJP Karyakartas. pic.twitter.com/7RHXFtxtET

— Maneka Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) April 12, 2018

03.27 pm: राजकिय स्वार्थापोटी काँग्रेस पक्ष व विरोधकांनी #संसद बंद ठेवली.देशाला फसविले. याचा निषेध म्हणून मा @narendramodi जींच्या नेतृत्वात आज @BJP4India एक दिवसाचे उपोषण करीत आहे.

कोल्हापूर येथे उपोषणाला भाजपा लोकप्रतिनिधी सोबत उपोषण करून निषेध करताना #FastWithPMModi pic.twitter.com/FMtCRgBn7p

— Amar Sable (@sable_amar) April 12, 2018

03.26 pm: Maharashtra stands firmly behind our Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji with CM Shri @Dev_Fadnavis ji joining us for the #FastWithPMModi pic.twitter.com/564yHvJ7UN

— Poonam Mahajan (@poonam_mahajan) April 12, 2018

02.55 pm: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and several BJP leaders, including MPs and MLAs, are observing a day-long fast today in parts of the state to protest against the recent washout of the Budget Session of Parliament. Although Rupani was scheduled to sit on a ‘symbolic fast’ with other BJP leaders at Lal Darwaja area here between 11 am and 5 pm, he decided to observe the fast while working from Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad city BJP president Jagdish Panchal said.

02.30 pm: The Congress today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged silence over the Unnao rape case and questioned why the accused BJP MLA was yet to be arrested. Speaking to reporters here, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also alleged that Modi was “not serious” about the crime against women across the country. Sibal also asked the Prime Minister to observe fast over rape incidents and register his protest against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the Unnao rape case.

12. 25 pm: BJP President Amit Shah holds fast protest in Karnataka’s Dharwad; BS Yeddyurappa also present.

11.55 am: This is how Twitter reacted on day-long fast observed by PM Narendra Modi and BJP MPs:

A Farcical Fast’ by a ‘Fascist BJP’!, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said in a tweet.

Do you agree with PM Modi’s decision to fast today and divert attention from the gruesome rape cases in Unnao and Kathua?, asked Congress.

If Mahatma Gandhi was around, he would do ‘upwas’/fast in Kathua till justice was done to little Asifa not in poll bound Karnataka, said Rajdeep Sardesai.

The only leader who motivated every single Indian to fast for a genuine national food crisis, Vivek Agnihotri said in a tweet.

Even Shatrughan Sinha couldn’t stop taking a dig at BJP fast.

11.25 am: You would recall the long-drawn process of procurement of fighter aircraft that never reached any conclusion, says PM Modi.

11.20 am: Maharashtra: Union Minister Piyush Goyal observes day-long fast in Thane, says, ‘The way in which Congress & other opposition parties did not let the budget session run, is condemnable to say the least.’

10.58 am: Watch Live: PM Modi addresses Defence Expo 2018 in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.

10.10 am: PM Modi at the venue of Defence Expo in Mahabalipuram.

9.45 am: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Chennai, he will be addressing Defence Expo.

9.40 am: Protests near the airport in Alandur area in Chennai.

9.30 am: PM Narendra Modi to arrive in Chennai shortly, protests near the airport in Alandur area.