Why Surat's New Fish Market Signboard Bearing PM Narendra Modi's Name Sparked a Major Controversy
The Surat Municipal Corporation built a wholesale fish market using central funds, but installing a signboard naming it after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked debate among traders and civic officials. Surendra Lashkari, a fish trader, objected to the name, saying the Prime Minister was a vegetarian and therefore his name should not be associated with a fish market.
A controversy has erupted in Gujarat's Surat over a newly built wholesale fish market after a large signboard bearing the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was installed at the entrance without official authorisation from the municipal corporation. The facility, constructed by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the Nanpura Lakkadkot area, has sparked debate among local traders and civic authorities regarding naming protocols and the association of the Prime Minister's name with a seafood trading hub.
Differing Views Among Local Traders
The installation of the hoarding - reading "Shree Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market" and featuring the Prime Minister's photograph - drew immediate objections from a section of traders, reports PTI. Fish trader Surendra Lashkari voiced strong opposition, pointing out the Prime Minister's dietary habits. PM Narendra Modi Urges Space Startups to Make India a Global Hub for Talent and Innovation.
Controversy Erupts After Surat Fish Market Is Named After PM Narendra Modi
PM Narendra Modi’s name on a Gujarat's Surat fish market has triggered controversy, with traders questioning why vegetarian PM’s name was linked to a non-vegetarian facility & who authorised the board without a formal civic resolution.@NewIndianXpress @santwana99 @jayanthjacob pic.twitter.com/RyemPg0l7H
— Dilip Kshatriya (@Kshatriyadilip) August 24, 2026
"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 insisted. Conversely, Kalpesh Navsariwala, president of The Surat Fish Merchant Association (SFMA), defended the decision, stating that the association independently passed a resolution to honour the Prime Minister. Navsariwala credited central government backing for the project's realisation.
"Under the Yojana, which was launched by PM Modi, the SMC received INR 3 crore to build this market. Others never did anything for us. Now that the market has been built and providing employment to lakhs of people, it is causing heartburn to some people," Navsariwala said, referring to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. National Space Day 2026: PM Narendra Modi Hails India’s Space Rise, Says Gen Z, Private Sector Driving New Technologies.
Civic Body Clarifies Official Stance
Addressing the procedural aspects, SMC Executive Engineer of the Central Zone, R.D. Ganjawala, clarified that the local body has not yet granted formal approval for the name. While the association submitted a written application to the SMC Standing Committee and central zone authorities, the formal process remains incomplete. "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 stated, adding that official deliberations on the naming proposal are ongoing. The market project cost an estimated INR 9 crore to INR 10 crore, featuring 80 large wholesale stalls funded partially by a central grant alongside municipal allocations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2026 01:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
