Ahmedabad: Accusing Congress President Sonia Gandhi and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government of hatching a 'conspiracy' to defame Gujarat in omitting the State's name from national anthem in textbooks of Kerala, Chief Minister Narendra Modi today (Sep 16, 2004) demanded a public apology from the Congress chief or face a mass agitation.

"Gandhi and Congress-led UPA Government must publicly apologise for this unforgivable deed such as omitting Gujarat's name from national anthem. Clearly this is yet another conspiracy to defame Gujarat," Modi said, addressing a rally in Vadnagar town of Mehsana in North Gujarat today.

Modi warned that if Gandhi and the Government did not apologise, he would himself lead a mass agitation for "Gujarat's self-respect (Swabhimaan)" from Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 to October 31.

"It is high time that such anti-Gujarat forces are given 'dose of their own medicine' as they have left no stone unturned in their efforts to defame the State, he said.