Gujarat shines on

Vibrant Gujarat is a flagship event of the State government and was launched by Narendra Modi when he was Chief Minister of the State. This year, it coincides with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which has been organised by the Ministry of Indian Overseas Affairs in Ahmedabad with much fanfare. This time Modi, a former host, will be attending the programmes as a guest. But this is not news. Sources say that the Gujarat government requested all the State governments to sponsor the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. There is no dearth of government sponsors of the event. All States were eager to participate but in the background there were murmurings among the Congress-ruled States. The BJP-ruled States have already fallen in line. Sources disclosed that Congress-ruled States’ Chief Ministers were of the opinion that their States should not sponsor the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas as it coincides with Vibrant Gujarat. According to them, it is an event to promote only Gujarat and no other State will benefit from it. These States could not do much as the Prime Minister himself was taking a keen interest so no State could dare not to participate. Finally, the Congress-ruled States fell in line as well to promote the Gujarat conclave. When the Prime Minister himself is in charge of the ceremonies, who would dare speak out openly?