SURAT, OCT 17: Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana got a rousing reception on Saturday night during his first visit to his constituency after the Lok Sabha elections. Rana expressed his gratitude to the citizens for ensuring his victory with highest margin and said he was aware of the problems the city faced and pledged to serve the city. ``I will never let you down and will try my best to live up to your expectations,'' he said.The entire three-kilometre stretch from Chowk Bazaar fort grounds -- venue of `Maha Avivadan Rally', the main felicitation function -- to Surat Railway station was decorated. The minister, accompanied by state BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana, garlanded Sardar Patel's statue at the Surat railway station. A large number of admirers, BJP workers and councillors gathered at railway station to welcome the Surat strongman, who arrived in the city by Satabdi Express at 6 pm.As he came out of the station and got into the specially decorated van, the station reverberated with fireworks, which continued till 9.30 pm, after his cavalcade reached the fort grounds. It took Rana more than three hours to reach Chowk Bazaar. Bharatiya Janata Party city president Pravin Naik, city general secretary Kanubhai Joshi, Mayor Bhikhabhai Boghra, Deputy Mayor Naval Patel, Standing Committee Chairman Natu Soma Patel, leader of house in SMC Shankerlal Chevli, former Mayor Geeta Desai, Fakirbhai Chauhan and SUDA chairman Arvind Godiwala joined Rana on the van for the occasion.
The textile minister said the Prime Minister had taken note of his huge victory margin. ``I have been made Textile Minister yet again and have already initiated measures to revive the textile industry. Now I have to see that the people of Surat city get benefit from the technology upgrade scheme, for which the government has earmarked Rs 25,000 crore.''
Addressing the gathering, State BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana highlighted the next century which, he said, belonged to India. ``The 19th and 20th centuries belonged to the West. The 21st century will be India's.. Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will take us into the new century -- which will see India as a prosperous and strong nation.'' Ridiculing the opinion and exit polls, which predicted 11 to 15 seats for the BJP in Gujarat, Rajendrasinh, who is also the Bhavnagar MP, said ``we are happy that our tally has gone up in the state.'' He, however, cautioned BJP workers against complacency.
The party's city president Pravin Naik said, ``(Kashiram) Rana has made us proud. We are proud that the Surat MP is among top 10 MPs in the country as far as the margin of victory is concerned. His re-induction in the Union Cabinet is certificate for his excellent performance as Textile Minister in the previous government.''
The whole programme took a little ugly turn when some drunkards, apparently supporters of Olpad MLA Dhansukh Patel, created a rowdy scene and began hooting and booing when the minister forgot to mention Patel's name in his 20-minute speech.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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