Despite border tension, Gujarat BJP to go ahead with Modi's campaign event

Even as the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet and another gathering of the party, both of which are to be held in Ahmedabad on Thursday, stand postponed in view of the prevailing situation between India and Pakistan, the BJP's programme in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to address party workers through video conference, will be held as per schedule. 

Modi is scheduled to address party workers across Gujarat on “Mera booth, sabse majboot booth” (My booth, best booth) on Thursday afternoon. The event is part of a series of programmes lined up by the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections. 

Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said that as of now the programme will be held as per schedule. The party has made arrangements to view Modi's address live at 451 places across the state. Senior party leaders have been given responsibility for each of the places.

The BJP's move of going ahead with the programme, however, has invited criticism from the opposition. Chief spokesperson of Gujarat Congress, Manish Doshi, alleged that for the BJP the chair is more important than the country. He said that for the Congress, the country comes first and this was the reason that despite making all arrangements and spending lakhs of rupees for the programmes, both the events stand postponed. 

Pandya defended the party saying that in Congress's case the leaders were to come to Gujarat, but in BJP's programme, the prime minister is to address the party workers through a video conference.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the leaders who were scheduled to attend the public meeting.