Tehelka sting won't affect Congress in Gujarat: Vaghela

Mumbai, Oct 27 (UNI) Ruling out any adverse impact of the latest sting operation by Tehelka magazine on the Congress during the Gujarat Assembly Elections scheduled for December, Union Minister for Textiles Shankarsingh Vaghela said the state administration's attempts to encash on the sentiments of the people through the overexposed Godhra episode will have no impact on the voters there.

In an interaction with mediapersons after the 6th DHL-CIAe International Fashion Awards&Charity Nite here last evening, Mr Vaghela alleged that the latest sting operation by Tehelka magazine in exposing the complicity of the Narendra Modi administration in Gujarat by stirring the post-Godhra communal riots, was a belated attempt by the Chief Minister to boost his sagging image among the voters for the forthcoming Legislative Elections.

The senior Congress leader said, ''It's a complete Congress wave in Gujarat. And any attempt by the state administration to encash on the sentiments of the people through the overexposed Godhra episode will have no impact on the voters.'' Dismissing queries of negative fallout during the State Assembly Elections on his party, Mr Vaghela said the Congress was in a strong position and would be able to secure a majority under the present state of affairs.

''The sting was just an attempt to deflect public attention from the ongoing infighting within the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),'' he added.

Earlier, addressing the textile and apparel exporters, the Minister said, ''The government is concerned about the plight of exporters, who were badly hit by the appreciation of the rupee. The Prime Minister himself has shown interest to resolve the issue and we hope that the problem will get solved at the earliest within a month or two.'' Admitting the reality that exporters were going through a bad phase, with the fear of unemployment lurking the sector, Mr Vaghela said, ''The Ministry of Textile and Commerce is negotiating with the Ministry of Finance for the capital subsidy of 10 to 20 per cent for the exporters.'' ''The government is concerned about all exporters and will find a way out so that, even if the rupee continues to surge, it should not affect the exporters in a big way,'' he added.

UNI