Modi's fast has exposed his dark side, hypocrisy: Congress

Senior Congress leaders Shankersinh Vaghela and Arjun Modhavadia on Tuesday ended their three-day fast, saying it had exposed the "hypocrisy" and the "dark side" of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Sadbhavana mission.

Vaghela and Modhavadia, who were holding a fast as a counter to the one observed by Modi, broke it by accepting a glass of juice offered by two Dalit girls in the presence of hundreds of Congress workers and supporters. The two were fasting on a footpath in front of the Sabarmati Ashram

The Congress leaders criticised Modi on various issues including his 'Sadbhavna Mission' fast. "The Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state had announced that Modi would go on a three day fast, but he ended his mission within 55 hours! Why this haste? Modi has always backed out as far as his promises are concerned," Vaghela said before breaking his fast.

He said he wants to seek forgiveness from Mahatma Gandhi for using his sacred weapon of fast against Modi, "who was making a mockery of the tool, which was used to gain independence from the British."

"A fast is a sacred weapon. One stays hungry and it appeals to others. Gandhiji used this weapon. Anna Hazare also embarked on fast against our own government at the Centre. But we do not have any ill-feeling towards him. We are not happy if someone else is unhappy, that is our culture," Vaghela said.

"It is surprising that a government has to undertake fast. What was the need for it? We decided to undertake parallel fast to expose hypocrisy and the dark side of Modi's Sadbhavana Mission," he said.