Modi accuses Congress of ''playing game of communalism''

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) Launching a frontal attack on the Congress for raising a question mark on the credibility of his state, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has termed those ''scouting for contradictions between Mahatma Gandhi's 'Ramrajya' and Hindutva'' as ''pure hypocrites, playing the game of communalism''.

''At the time when Gandhiji talked about ushering in 'Ramrajya' in India, only Hindutva prevailed in the country, and it (country) was most developed,'' Mr Modi, who had been evading media for quite some time, told weekly 'Outlook Hindi' in an interview, breaking his long silence.

Mr Modi said if the UPA government at the Centre wanted to formulate a package for the Gujarat riot victims on the basis of 1984 riots, it should also be ready to compensate the victims of all the pre-1984 communal riots on such a basis.

The charismatic but controversial leader, who has earned the credit for transforming the economic face of Gujarat, said he not only knew fully well those who were castinbg aspersions on the identity of the state, but was also aware of their credibility.

In particular, he picked up Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram for venting his ire, saying the minister was misleading the country by periodically announcing that the economy had clocked a growth rate of eight per cent.

''But the fact of the matter is that Gujarat is the sole state where the growth rate of ten per cent has become a consistent and durable phenomenon. Why do Congressmen fail to see it?'' he asked, lacing his observation with sarcasm.

Mr Modi also said that Congressmen in Gujarat were petitioning their leader Sonia Gandhi to restrain Central ministers from heaping praise on Gujarat for its tremendous growth.

''This only proves that my adversaries are also praising my work,'' he quipped.

Asked why he was always in a fighting mood with the UPA government, the chief minister, whose state goes to assembly elections next year, said he had never initiated any move for it.

''It is the Centre which always creates roadblocks in Gujarat's development. The Centre's fight is with Gujarat. I want to ask why Gujarat is being penalised for it. Hang me if I am found guilty, but don't play mischief with Gujarat.'' The chief minister, however, parried a direct reply when quizzed whether the BJP had strayed from its agenda.

On the allegation of Rs 1200 crore loss to the State Electricity Department on account of the power plant being set up by Essar Group, Mr Modi said skirted the issue by saying that it was sub judice.

He, however, dismissed the notion that his government was patronising some particular industry groups, saying even the opposition party in the state had not levelled such an allegation against him.

On being described as a BJP hardliner, he said the media had full liberty to attach any appellation to his name. ''We are living in a democracy. Everone is free to say anything and gloat over it.'' Asked whether he would campaign in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and whether Hindutva would be a major plank there, Mr Modi, without naming BJP President Rajnath Singh, said he was only a worker of the organisation.

''Who is sent where and what the issues are going to be in the campaign -- these can be answered only by the organisation head.

This question should be addressed to only those people.'' UNI SKS VD HS1845