Surat: What’s in a name?
Well, in this case, it makes a hell of a difference apparently.
A local fish market in Gujarat’s Surat, built by the city’s municipal corporation (SMC) at Lakkadkot in the Nanpura area, was named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
And that angered a section of traders who objected to the move, saying that PM Modi is a pure vegetarian!
On Monday, the Surat Fish Merchants Association inaugurated the ‘Shree Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market’, with a picture of the Prime Minister on the banner.
Within 24 hours, the banner had to be covered with a white sheet following opposition from some members of the association.
An argument broke out between those who initiated the move and others who opposed it.
Surendra Lashkari, a fish trader who has a plot in the market, managed to convince the PM’s name to be removed.
“Narendra Modi has never consumed seafood in his life and is a pure vegetarian. This damages the image and identity of the Prime Minister, who is a vegetarian, so I requested the association president to remove his name,” Lashkari was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
The Surat civic body claimed that the name of the fish market is still under consideration for approval and nothing has been finalised, PTI reported.
“The board was put up without an official resolution. We have informed them about it and they have given a verbal assurance that they will take it down themselves,” SMC Executive Engineer (Central Zone) RD Ganjawala said.
Built with assistance from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, this is the city’s first municipal corporation-run wholesale fish market and can accommodate 80 outlets. It was constructed at a cost of Rs 9-10 crore.
