Modi flays Centre for 'failing to curb price rise'

Vadodara, Jun 8 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today lambasted the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for failing to curb inflationary conditions and price rise which have had their impact on the common man.

''The Union Government seems to have no concern for the common man as it is yet to take corrective measures to deal with this grave situation which the country had never witnessed in the past,'' Mr Modi alleged.

Addressing a mammoth rally of farmers organised on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Baroda Dairy here, the Chief Minister said Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram should not mislead people with manipulated facts and figures to tarnish the image of Gujarat.

He alleged that although the state of Gujarat was giving over Rs 40,000 crores as revenue every year to the Centre, it was never given its due share.

With the successful running of the dairy cooperative unions, Gujarat had been on the top of the list of states in the highest milk procurement and it had all the potential to set new records and face the challenge posed by the multinational companies in the dairy sector, he said.

''My government has decided to set up a 'Kaam Dhenu University' in the state, first of its kind in the country, to help promote the milk business with the help of advanced dairy technology,'' the Chief Minister said and hoped that the move would immensely benefit the farmers and give a boost to agriculture.

Stressing the need for scientific milch animal breeding and feeding, Mr Modi said his government was contemplating set ting up ''animal hostels'' in villages for their proper care and setting up of gobar gas plants with a view to fighting global warming.

Gujarat Animal Husbandry Minister Dilip Sanghani, Water Resources Minister Nitin Patel and Baroda Dairy Chairman Madhu Srivastava also addressed the gathering.

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