Modi challenges Sonia claim on Gujarat's development

Kapadwanj, Gujarat, Dec 6 (UNI) Chief Minister Narendra Modi today challenged Congress president Sonia Gandhi's reported statement that whatever development has taken place in Gujarat, was due to Central funds and said the state was contributing ten times more to the exchequer than what it had received.

''While Gujarat contributes Rs 40,000 crore, all it had got was Rs 4000 crore,'' he said at a public meeting here, in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

He said,''Lets enter a deal--dont give us a single penny and dont take anything from us. Then, it is all for us to see what will happen.'' In a mocking manner, he said while 'Soniaben' claimed that all the welfare measures were due to Centre's efforts, the local Congress leaders have been harping that there was no development in the state.

Mr Modi asked the Congress to first decide if any economic progress had been achieved or not.

He also ridiculed the Congress for spreading rumours that his government had built no schools, hospitals or roads, and said the party had ''no business'' to do so after being in power for 45 years.

''They have made such dents that it has taken me five years to fill them. Had there been any other Chief Minister, he would have taken 90 years to do so,'' he said.

He also claimed while other Chief Ministers had tainted images for having Swiss bank accounts or their sons' misdemeanor, there were no smears against his name. ''Your Chief Minister is totally bedaag (spotless),'' he claimed.

UNI