After taking blessings of several religious leaders, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday began his 51-hour hunger strike to protest the Centre's stand on the Sardar Sarovar dam height issue.
Modi, who had announced his plan to embark on a fast at New Delhi on Saturday after talks on the dam height remained inconclusive, arrived at GMDC ground and greeted the religious leaders present on the occasion.
Though Modi had announced that he would protest at Sabarmati Ashram, Gujarat government decided on another venue due to security concerns and space constraints and have erected a massive pandal at the venue.
With a banner reading Narmada ka bandh nahin rukega aur Gujarat nahin jhukega (Narmada dam work will not stop and Gujarat will not bow), Modi sat on hunger strike along with his entire cabinet and senior party leaders from across the state.
College and school students and even locals have come to the venue to catch a glimpse of Modi despite soaring temperatures.
"There is no change in the stand of the Gujarat government and the chief minister will continue his protest fast as planned," a senior Gujarat government official said. The chief minister would drink only water occasionally for the next 51 hours.
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