Surat fish market named after PM Modi without civic body's approval, sparks row

A controversy has erupted over a newly-built fish market in Surat being named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a section of traders objecting to the move, even as the local civic body clarified that the official naming process for the complex was yet to be completed.

A large board reading "Shree Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market," bearing the Prime Minister's photograph in one corner, was installed at the entrance of the market built by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) at Lakkadkot in the Nanpura area of the city, triggering opposition from a section of traders.

Fish trader Surendra Lashkari objected to the name, arguing that since the Prime Minister was a vegetarian, his name should not be associated with a fish market. "Narendra Modi has never consumed seafood in his life and is a pure vegetarian. Because Modi is a vegetarian, this board should not be put up," Lashkari said.

However, Kalpesh Navsariwala, president of The Surat Fish Merchant Association (SFMA), defended the move, saying the association had independently passed a resolution to name the market after Modi. The board also carries the name of the fish merchant association, he said.

Navsariwala noted that the Centre had provided Rs 3 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for construction of the market and cited government initiatives for the welfare of fishermen. "Under the Yojana, which was launched by PM Modi, the SMC received Rs 3 crore to build this market. Others never did anything for us. Now that the market has been built and is providing employment to lakhs of people, it is causing heartburn to some people," he said.

SMC Executive Engineer of the Central Zone, R D Ganjawala, however, clarified that the civic body had not yet formally approved the name. He said the Surat Fish Merchant Association had submitted a written application to the SMC Standing Committee chairman and Central Zone authorities seeking to name the facility after the prime minister.

"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," Ganjawala said, adding that the necessary procedure for considering the naming proposal was underway.

Ganjawala confirmed that the Centre had provided a Rs 3 crore grant under the Matsya Sampada Yojana for the project, with the remaining amount spent by the SMC. According to the civic official, the market, which has 80 large wholesale stalls, was constructed at an overall cost of Rs 9 crore to 10 crore.

(Inputs from PTI)