Congress to expose "lopsided" development under Modi regime

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) In a clear indication that the post-Godhra carnage of minorities would not be the major campaign point against the Narendra Modi government in the forthcoming Gujarat assembly elections, the Congress today sought to demolish the "myth" about the development of the state under the BJP government.

Senior Congress Leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal today set the tone for the Party's campaign for the two-phase poll in Gujarat, when he highlighted the "lopsided" development of the state under the Modi regime.

"There is no infrastructure for development in Narendra Modi's Gujarat, but only infrastructure for terror," he told mediapersons at his official residence.

Mr Sibal, who is also Convenor of the National Media Committee of the AICC, said there was no investment in Gujarat under the BJP rule, though the government had signed several Memoranda of Understanding. This had given the wrong impression that investment was flowing in the state.

In this context, he said the BJP government had transferred lands to several big industrial houses. But no major industry had come up.

He said the number of engineering and medical colleges and also Informational Technology and Biotechnology Institutes were less in Gujarat as compared to states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Mr Sibal said though 47 per cent of the people in Gujarat were dependent on agriculture, the contribution of agriculture to GDP was just 15 per cent. The per capita debt of farmer was the highest in Gujarat with Rs 15,526.

He said the condition of farmers was the worst in the state with more than 300 cases of suicides being reported in 2006. The death of about 600 people were registered as "cause of death unknown." Citing report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Mr Sibal said as many as 3.6 million children dropped out of school during 2001-06.

Saying that the power situation in Gujarat was dismal, he complained there was electricity supply only for six hours a day in many places. Asked if the Congress would raise the demand for prosecution of Mr Modi in the light of the Tehelka expose on post-Godhra carnage, Mr Sibal said "it is the expectation of law. We are not demanding it." Asked if the Centre would take the initiative for the prosecution of Mr Modi, Mr Sibal, an eminent lawyer himself, said there was no provision in the Constitution for the same. It was for the state government in Gujarat to prosecute him. "We want to be a law abiding government at the Centre." Mr Sibal said the Congress would present before the people the failures of the Modi government on all fronts, including the atrocities on the minorities. "It is for the people to give their verdict in the elections." UNI

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