Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Surat Fish Market’s Modi Name Sparks Approval Dispute
A new fish market in Surat displayed a sign using Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name.
The city government said it had not officially approved the name yet.
Some fish traders objected because Modi is vegetarian.
They suggested naming the market after the traditional fishing community instead.
The Surat Fish Merchant Association supported the name.
The association said Modi’s government helped fishermen and provided money for the project.
Officials said the sign was put up without the required approval and traders promised to remove it.
Another report said the sign was later covered with a white sheet.
Traders also complained that poor drainage could cause flooding during rain.
A sign reading “Shree Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market” was installed at a new market in Surat’s Lakkadkot area.
The Surat Municipal Corporation said the name had not received an official resolution or formal sanction.
Some traders objected because Prime Minister Narendra Modi is vegetarian and proposed honoring the local fishing community instead.
The Surat Fish Merchant Association defended the name, citing Modi government fisheries initiatives and a Rs 3 crore central grant.
The sign was reportedly covered after objections, while traders also complained of drainage problems and differing reports put construction costs at Rs 3.90 crore or Rs 9–10 crore.
- Who
- The Surat Fish Merchant Association, objecting traders including Surendra Lashkari, the Surat Municipal Corporation, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- A dispute arose after a sign naming a municipal wholesale fish market after Narendra Modi was installed before the civic naming process was completed.
- When
- The market was inaugurated on Monday and the banner was reportedly covered on Tuesday; the articles do not provide calendar dates.
- Where
- At the municipal wholesale fish market in Lakkadkot, in Surat’s Nanpura area of Gujarat.
- Why
- The association said the name honored Modi’s fisheries policies and government support, while opponents said a vegetarian prime minister’s name was unsuitable for a fish market and objected to the unauthorized sign.
Objecting Traders
Supporting Fish Merchants Association
Use of Modi’s name
Objecting Traders
Some traders, including Surendra Lashkari, said Modi’s vegetarianism made his name unsuitable for a wholesale fish market and suggested honoring the traditional fishing community.
Supporting Fish Merchants Association
The Surat Fish Merchant Association said it independently resolved to name the market after Modi as a mark of respect for his support for fisheries and fishermen.
Government contribution
Objecting Traders
Opponents questioned the appropriateness of associating the Prime Minister’s name with a municipal seafood facility.
Supporting Fish Merchants Association
Association president Kalpesh Navsariwala cited the dedicated fisheries ministry, government welfare initiatives, and the Rs 3 crore grant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
Whether the sign should remain
Objecting Traders
Municipal authorities said the board was installed without the required approval and moved to have it removed; some reports said it was later covered.
Supporting Fish Merchants Association
Navsariwala said merchants who paid advance deposits supported the naming and would oppose attempts to remove the signboard.
- Signboard wording
- Reports quote the name as “Shree Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market” and “Shri Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market.”
- Location
- Lakkadkot, Nanpura, Surat, Gujarat
- Civic approval
- The Surat Municipal Corporation said no official resolution or formal sanction had approved the name when the sign was installed.
- Central grant
- The articles report that Rs 3 crore was provided under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
- Market capacity
- The complex has 80 large wholesale stalls or outlets.
- Reported construction cost
- One report says Rs 3.90 crore, while another cites an overall cost of Rs 9 crore to Rs 10 crore.
- Infrastructure complaints
- Traders said small drainage pipes were contributing to waterlogging near homes and temples during rains.
