Ahmedabad, Feb 9 (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that dharma was "the soul" of the Indian culture. Modi was addressing a gathering at the silver jubilee function of Maa Umiya Mata, organised by Kadva Patel Samaj, at Sidsar in Jamnagar district. "I was fortunate enough to have the blessings of all the mother goddesses, Ambaji, Bhaucharaji and Umiya Mata, by virtue of which I can serve the people," Modi said. "Dharma is the soul of our culture... had India not faced obstacles and lost direction post-independence, the dharma shakti (power of Dharma) would have transformed the social power to make the nation a global guru," he said. The Chief Minister exhorted the Patel community leaders to help free the society from evils such as female foeticide and gender discrimination. He also recalled contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in leading the nation during a crucial period after the independence. He also said that Patidar samaj had produced many "illustrious sons such as Chhagan Bapa and Odhavjibhai". The Modi government faced a severe indictment for "negligence and inaction" during the 2002 riots by the Gujarat High Court yesterday. The High Court ordered the government to compensate the religious structures destroyed during the riots.
