Modi blames Deshmukh for power crisis in Maharashtra

Pune, Jan 28 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and blamed him for the power crisis in the state.

Addressing a gathering ahead of the elections to the civic body on February one, Mr Modi said Mr Deshmukh had voted against raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam Project and thereby blocking the supply of power to the state.

He criticised the Congress and the NCP for playing vote-bank politics with a little concern for development. ''They have an understanding, 'Andar se dosti bahar se kushti', they continue to misguide people,'' he added.

Mr Modi claimed that despite the state facing drought for seven years, farmer suicides were unheard of in Gujarat due to the good governance. The problem of rampant suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, despite assurances and packages from the state and the Centre, was due to the fact that there were essentially no social- oriented policies,'' he charged.

''Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, despite giving assurances and packages, could not reverse farmer suicides in Vidarbha,'' he added.

The UPA government first scrapped POTA shielding those indulging in terrorist activities and the country was facing wheat shortage and prices of essentials were sky rocketing due to bad governance, he charged.

More UNI