Modi reaches out to Mamata, says West Bengal progressing
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| Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi waves his hand coming out after offering prayers at world famous Dakshineshwar Kali Temple in Kolkata. PTI Photo |
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi sided up with Mamata Banerjee and said that Bengal is progressing on the right path of development and also highlighted that non-UPA states are being discriminated against by the Congress led central government.
His words echoed the Bengal chief minister’s regular allegations against the Centre.
The statement came at a time when Banerjee is in Delhi with allegations of discrimination against Bengal. She is to meet Prime minister Manmohan Singh and others regarding what she calls ‘state’s due’.
“Congress dug holes in Gujarat. When we came to power it took us ten years to fill up those holes. In Bengal it was even worse. The Left dug big holes for 32 years. What a sight of destruction they left. That’s why who the people have elected have to toil for years to fill up the holes. I believe now there is an initiative to fill up those holes. The state is progressing in the right direction and I hope people’s dream will be fulfilled,” said Modi, stating that he is not in Bengal to draw a comparison between the states but to learn.
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Modi was addressing a programme organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce, MCC Chamber of Commerce and the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata.
“There a kind of treatment for UPA states and a different kind of treatment for non-UPA states. It is natural that people in power in these states raise their voice against this. We cannot allow this,” he said.
Modi stated that any state can have financial crunch.
“We had power to tolerate this discrimination. May be Bengal has less power to tolerate,” said Modi.
He also stated that during BJP rule at the centre there was Left rule in Bengal. But there were no allegations of discrimination, despite ideological differences.
Modi also criticised UPAII’s external policies including being silent on Bangladesh situation and allowing Italian under trials to visit their native country.
He said India's federal structure is being overlooked by the UPA.
"The UPA government doesn't even bother to open pending files and is not even worried about anything. UPA government is like an ailing man with an eye on the clock, not the calendar," he said.
Modi said the country's interest should be considered first while framing foreign policy.
The government was being soft with Pakistan even after beheading of Indian soldiers, he said.
Highlights of Modi's speech:
* If we have to move ahead, Bengal will show us the way Modi in Kolkata
* Bengal is the state where the phrase 'don't look behind, look forward' was initiated
* It is important to recognise the strengths of West Bengal
* Bengal is the gateway to the development of north and northeast India
* For 32 years Bengal suffered from misgovernance, it will take time to resolve the issues
* I have not come with any political motive, have not come here to meet the CM. I do that only during elections
* There has been no development under the central government
* No constructive development taking place in eastern India
* UPA government is discriminating against non-UPA governments
* Central govt's performance depends on state govt's performance, but the Centre does not care about this
* It is time states raise their voice against discrimination by the central govt
* Economy's driving force depends on common man's purchasing power
* Per capita income does not improve unless we accept a growth model
* I want the farmers of our country to use modern technology and innovations
* PM yet to act on the panel report on reducing inflation even after a year
* Manufacturing, agriculture and services are three pillars of development
* There is a need for the government to intervene in agricultural sector beyond subsidies
* We do not have a realtime data of agricultural produce
* Gujarat is the only state where cataract operations are performed on cattle
* I've heard that all the excess grain that was rotting was sold to breweries
* Gujarat was never a tourist destination, Gujaratis are the best tourist
* Financial discipline is crucial. Today Gujarat is a revenue surplus state
* We have not increased any tax in the past 12 years, only stopped the leakage
* We have been successful in providing electricity to each and every village in Gujarat
* In most states, availability of power makes news, but in Gujarat power cuts are news
* The Gujarat electricity board was suffering major losses, but today Gujarat has surplus electricity
* Narendra Modi's 5F formula for industrial growth: Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign
* There is lack of ideas with the Centre
(With inputs from IANS and PTI)
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
