PIL filed over Sadbhavana fast expenditure

Ahmedabad: On the day chief minister Narendra Modi completed his Sadbhavana fast, a PIL was filed in Gujarat high court (HC) on Monday demanding explanations about whether it was a public function. And if it was not a public function, the petitioner has sought HC directions for recovery of money, if spent after the function from government exchequer.
An NGO, Vikalp Trust, filed the PIL on Monday seeking court directions to authorities to account for the money spent after the three-day gala event at the Gujarat University convention centre, where Modi sat on a 72-hour fast for peace, harmony and unity.
The petitioner’s counsel, K G Pandit, said that they have demanded information regarding the procedure bound to be followed to organize such an event. “There was no advertisement in newspapers or from any state instrumentality inviting people at the venue, where the chief minister was undertaking fast. Normally, the government does so in public function,” the lawyer said.
The PIL was filed on the basis of media reports that an amount of nearly Rs 60 crore was spent on this event. The petitioner trust wants to know the source of income that whether the money flowed from public treasury. Petitioner contends that if this is a personal or party function or a sponsored one, why should the state government functionaries sanction the amount or the government machinery should be allowed to be used.