‘Modi has told us not to sell this lucky house’

The Prajapatis of Sector 7 here are jubilant over Narendra Modi’s landslide victory.

They have a very special reason-Modi had lived in their house in Sector 7 here for nearly seven years from 1992 to 1999 while he was the in-charge of the party affairs of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

“My neighbours are also happy that Modiji had once lived here,” said Saroj Prajapati. The family, who hails from Rajasthan, and is into “bhujiya and namkeen” business has two houses in Sector 7 located close to each other. They had offered house no. 481 to Modi. The house has a big hall in the front with a bedroom at the back. Modi used the hall as an office and to meet people.

“He always used to talk high about Gujarat. He taught us how to cook Gujarati ‘khichdi’,” says Sharda Prajapati, sister-in-law of Saroj. Sharda’s husband, Mahavir Prasad, was the general secretary of the party Chandigarh unit at that time.

Saroj says: “Modiji used to have food with us. My son’s name- Deepam- was given by him.”
In June last year, the family had paid a visit to Modi in Gujarat. “Members of legislative assembly in Gujarat told us that he is very strict about work,” said Sharda. She added: “He asked me if I was surprised at the fast-paced development of Gujarat. I replied in the negative and told him that I had always believed in his capability and he could do much more.”

When he came to Chandigarh for a rally, the family had met him.

“Even then he found time for us. He said he was still the same person,” said Saroj.

“He rose to the post of chief minister of Gujarat soon after leaving Haryana. He once told us not to sell the house as it was lucky for him,” said Sharda.

At present, the family has given the house on rent.