Congress demands white paper on Modi's 'Sadbhavna' mission

VADODARA: Demanding White Paper on the "Sadbhavna" movement to be kicked off from tomorrow by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Opposition Congress today dubbed it as a " BJP affair" and asked the ruling party to bear expenses for the same.

Modi is launching the "Sadbhavana" (goodwill) movement from tomorrow by observing a one-day fast in Dwarka town in coastal Jamnagar district in a bid to strengthen harmony and goodwill among people.

"It is a party programme of BJP and not official programme of the Gujarat Government. Had it been an official programme of the state government, the Congress party leaders' names would have been printed on the invitation cards printed and distributed," Shaktisinh Gohil, Leader of the Opposition in Gujarat Assembly told reporters today.

The cards neither mention name of any Congress party leader nor any official invitation has been extended in this regard, said Gohil.

"So, it is a party programme of BJP and it should bear all expenditure for it," Gohil said on the sidelines of a convention organised for tribals by the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) here.

The GPCC demanded that the "white paper" should also detail about the expenditure incurred during the three-day fast observed by Modi last month in Ahmedabad besides the district-wise movement.

Hitting out at the state government, GPCC president Arjun Modhwadiya alleged that the government machinery, including state transport buses and public money has been "brazenly misused" for the sadbhavana mission.

"We demand a white paper on this sadbhavana movement and government (should) make public all expenditure incurred on it," he said.