Modi has kept a statue of Swami Vivekananda before his rath on a vehicle which travels with him during the yatra. He has also painted his bus converted into rath with photographs of Swami Vivekananda.
In his speeches during the yatra, Modi speaks about realising dreams of Swami Vivekananda to make India ‘vishwa guru', and urges youths to take up his cause.
“We respect Swami Vivekananda and that is the reason we have decided to take out yatra in his name. This yatra ensures that Modi's core belief in Hindutva is intact inspite of his Sadbhavna Mission with the motto of our government appeasement for none, development for all,” a BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Modi had a year back launched a Sadbhavna Mission after the Supreme Court appointed SIT gave a clean chit to him in the 2002 riot cases to reach out to minority community of the state and effect a changeover in his image so that he is more acceptable at the national level.
State Congress chief Arjun Modhvadia slammed him for using the name of Swami Vivekananda. “Earlier, he used the name of Lord Rama for their political gains now they are using the name of Swami Vivekananda. People will realise the true face of this leaders.”
Former chief minister Keshubhai Patel has also severely criticised Modi for using the name of Vivekananda by saying in his blog that a great saint who always kept himself away from politics is being dragged by Modi in the world of politics.
However, giving reply to his detractors on taking out a rally in the name of Swami Vivekananda Modi has said, “Political parties used Osama Bin Laden duplicate during campaigning in Bihar elections and every body remained silent. Now, when I am taking out a rally in the name of Vivekananda, what is their problem.
He further said now is the time to decide if you want the director of Laden or that of Swami Vivekananda for the country.
