Ahmedabad: Cultural program held on side lines of Vibrant Gujarat Summit turned violent as supporters of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and Congress union minister Shankersinh Vaghela clashed over kite flying dispute, at science city.

The Government of Gujarat organized 4th Global Investors’ Summit on 12-13 January 2009. Aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations,  policy and opinion makers.

As a part of cultural events kite flying contest was held. The event was sponsored by “Surat Diamond traders association” and “Surat Gems and Jewels export council”. Its part of urban Gujarati tradition to fly kites on Makarsankranti day. So Chief Minister Narendra Modi started flying kite. Modi’s Saffron colored flag had “Lotus” symbol on it. The opposition Congress MLA’s present in the event objected saying, “CM Modi is using the summit to promote his party BJP instead of promoting state. How can he fly a saffron colored kite with his party symbol Lotus, in a high profile summit?”

Upon hearing this news, Congress union minister Shankersinh Vaghela reached “Ahmadabad Science city” with his supporters and started flying a kite having Sonia Gandhi picture on it. Foreign delegates were surprised by crowd’s frenzied cries like - “Sonia Zindabad”, “Advani Zindabad”, “Jaey Congress”, “Jaey BJP”.  Then all of a sudden Narendra Modi skillfully cut down Vagela’s kite. Immediately the BJP supporters erupted in cheer shouting - “Long Live Ram, Down Down Rome”. Congress Legislators infuriated by the insult to their leader started clashing with BJP supporters. Soon the clashes spread across the city. Some sensitive areas like Maninagar witnessed large scale violence.

Later in the day, Gujarat cabinet convened by Modi asked Union Government to send armed forces to maintain law and order in Gujarat. This is the first time in India history; military had been called in for a kite flying contest.