AHMEDABAD, AUGUST 29: It was an unusual speech from caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi. For, he didn’t mention either riots or elections — the two things that are usually uppermost in his mind — and stuck to the N-word (Narmada) at the function to mark the release of Narmada water into the Sabarmati.

In his address to the huge crowd at Vivekanand Bridge, Modi even refused to take credit for Narmada water. Instead, he praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Vallabhai’s associate Bhai Kaka, former CM Keshubhai Patel, Chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited Bhupendrasinh Chudasma and all the engineers who helped transport Narmada water to each and every corner of Gujarat.

‘‘It was first Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhai Kaka, a close associate of Vallabhbhai Patel, who dreamt of Narmada flowing in every corner of Gujarat. And later, it was Keshubhai Patel who since the early 1970s taught party workers only one thing and that was that Narmada can be very helpful in the development of Gujarat.’’

Ironically, the man who Modi was praising was absent. Keshubhai was to address the gathering with Modi as per the original plan but did not attend. Modi took out a chit from his pocket and read out a message he said was from Keshubhai.

Without mentioning former Narmada development minister Jaynarayan Vyas, Modi went on to say: ‘‘Though I hold the Narmada portfolio, the true Narmada Minister was Bhupendrabhai, who has worked day in and day out to make the dream of Sardar Patel and Bhaikaka come true.’’

Modi also promised the people of Ahmedabad that the Sabarmati river would now flow bank to bank throughout the year. ‘‘Gujaratis consider Narmada a sacred river and now this river will flow in each and every district and taluka, making the land sacred.’’

Attacking Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments over their protests on the dam issue, Modi said: ‘‘I would urge the Gujarat Congress to pressure their partymen and force them to complete the rehabilitation on time. I also promise the people of Gujarat that power generated from Narmada will be supplied in the state within 150 days of work on increasing the dam height to 110 ft starting.’’

He also took the the Congress-ruled Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to task for not welcoming Narmada water into the Sabarmati. ‘‘Had they organised this function, we would have come and also welcomed this water with them,’’ Modi shot back. He added: ‘‘People had heard of the water grid, but the BJP has been able to implement it.’’

Not forgetting his favourite five crore figure, he said: ‘‘The credit for the Narmada water flowing in the Sabarmati river goes to the five crore Gujaratis who have contributed in one way or other. I will also give credit to voluntary organisations who have helped the state fight against the NBA (Narmada Bachao Andolan).’’

The Narmada water will make nearly two dozen rivers flow from bank to bank, fill 900 lakes and ponds and recharge 3,000 borewells in Ahmedabad city. Your Kankaria and Chandola lake will also be full of Narmada water,’’ Modi told the crowd.