NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
The Rajasthan administration heaved a sigh of relief when Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's brief visit to the state passed off peacefully.
Modi took a helicopter from Ahmedabad to Abu Road in Rajasthan's Sirohi district on his way to Ambaji in neighbouring Gujarat to begin the next leg of the BJP's Gujarat Gaurav Yatra.
Additional Director General of Police Arun Duggar said in Jaipur that Modi arrived in Abu Road by helicopter at 0950 IST and proceeded for Ambaji, 28 km away, by car.
Additional police forces, including the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), had been rushed to Abu Road to provide security cover to Modi and maintain law and order in view of the state BJP's plans to gather at the air strip to welcome the chief minister.
Hundreds of BJP workers from various parts of Rajasthan, particularly from the neighbouring districts of Pali, Jalore, Jodhpur and Udaipur, had converged on Abu Road. A large number of arches had also been erected on the road leading to Ambaji.
Senior BJP leaders like national treasurer Ram Das Agarwal and state BJP general secretary Om Prakash Mathur were present at the air strip when Modi arrived from Ahmedabad.
When he left for Ambaji, BJP workers followed in a convoy.
As per the BJP's plans, Modi was to lead the convoy in an open jeep, but the Rajasthan government, headed by the Congress, refused to allow him to travel in an open jeep. They suggested a bullet-proof car instead considering that Modi enjoys 'Z' level security.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had personally reviewed the security arrangements on Friday night.
Runup to Gujarat Elections
Post-Godhra Violence in Gujarat: Complete Coverage
More reports from Gujarat
More reports from Rajasthan
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
