“I want to tell a bitter truth to the Kadva Patels. Unjha, which is the seat of their deity Ma Umiya, ranks the lowest in sex ratio in Gujarat. This isn’t any natural phenomenon, but result of the evil practice of female foeticide,” Modi said at the inauguration of Umiyadham silver jubilee celebrations in Sidsar.

Modi, who was accompanied by 12 of his ministers, added, “Today at Umiyadham, let’s take a pledge to abandon this evil practice. I know this community can bring results.”

He went on to appeal socially and economically powerful Kadvas to sponsor pregnant women and children from poor families in their villages to fight malnutrition.

Earlier in the day, Revenue Minister Anandi Patel also emphasised the need for stopping female foeticide in her speech. “I am a Patel. I am a woman. But I have to say that unfortunately female foeticide has been the highest in the Patel community,” said the minister, adding, “It’s high time that we commit ourselves to correct this social imbalance in the community.”

‘Sardar patel would have made india superpower by now’

Terming the Patel community as a ‘hardworking’ one, Narendra Modi said the country would have become a superpower by now had the competence of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been used properly after independence.

“The country got derailed soon after independence and it still is. If competence of Sardar Patel was used then, India would have become a superpower by now,” he said without naming any individual or party.

Trust sets Rs 150-cr donation target

The Umiya Mataji Trust has set a target to raise donations to the tune of Rs 150 crore to carry out various development works in the next five years.

On the first day of the five-day programme, nearly two lakh Patels visited the mini township like venue spread over 1,000 acres on the bank of river Venu. In the afternoon, a helicopter service started for the visitors, enabling them to shower flower petals during a 12-minute aerial tour for Rs 5,500.

Various state ministers inaugurated different fairs based on agricultural, industrial, science and educational themes.