It was only on late Thursday night that a statement was released from CM’s residence appealing to the Ahmedabad citizens to maintain peace. The release said, “The unfortunate event that occurred in Ahmedbad has shocked Gujarat, and I personally feel the pangs of it. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.”

Modi did not make an appearance in Gandhinagar's Town Hall where he was scheduled to be present for a book release function of noted Gujarati actor Upendra Trivedi on Thursday night. Gujarat BJP president Parshottam Rupala who attended the function had little to say on Modi’s low profile.

When asked as to why Modi was shying away from appearing in public ever since the Lok Sabha elections results were out, Rupala first said the CM was regularly attending public meetings. Why did he then not attend the function held at the Town Hall? Rupala said, “Instead of asking me, why (do) not (you) go and ask him?”

A senior BJP leader admitted, “It’s true that our CM should have promptly visited the affected areas and consoled the relatives of poor victims who lost their lives after consuming the killer brew in Ahmedabad. He should have sent at least a couple of his senior ministers to the scene of the tragedy as part of the damage-control exercise.”

Shaktisinh Gohil, the Leader of the Opposition, pointed out that besides Modi, none of his senior ministerial colleagues, including State Home Minister Amit Shah, has cared to visit the hooch tragedy-hit area of Majoor Gam, Odhav and Amraiwadi.

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