Modi attacks Centre, says opposition-ruled states neglected

Jaipur, Jan 9: Using the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas platform to attack the Centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today suggested that states ruled by Opposition parties do not have its ''blessings'' and said whatever his state has achieved on the development front was on its own resources.

Enthused by the applause from the audience, Modi dumped his prepared speech copy and criticised the Centre in front of the overseas Indians and said there was no response from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his suggestion to set up Solar Production Units in desert areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat along the border with Pakistan.

"Rajasthan Chief Minister said he has the blessings of the Central Government and the Prime Minister.But we are not fortunate enough. We don’t get anything. We have to do everything on our own," he said in his address at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
Modi was given a standing ovation by the audience after his 30-minute speech during which he highlighted the growth achieved in his state.

Claiming that Gujarat does not seek money from Centre for its developmental projects, the chief minister said he once wrote a letter to Singh asking him to provide Gujarat a satellite but the Centre was "confused" on what should be done.

"I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister last year.Usually what will a Chief Minister write to a Prime Minister? He will seek funds. But I never write letters seeking funds.This letter was asking the Prime Minister to allot a satellite for Gujarat.But they were confused on what to do," he said.

However, he said the state received a full-fledged transponder of 36 MHz Q-band on Indian Space Communication Satellite, which will enable the state implement long distance education system across 12 sectors at a time that will used to improve governance, distance learning programme and telemedicine.

PTI