Buoyed by UK’s signal to end the official no-contact policy with him and engage Gujarat afresh, chief minister Narendra Modi heaped accusations on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for not treating Gujarat “as a part of India”.
“I want to ask the Prime
Minister and Sonia Gandhi why Gujarat is not treated as part of India or showcased to the world,” he thundered in Pavagadh at a rally to wind up his month-long Swami Vivekanand Yatra.
“Had the government in Delhi been with us, India’s reputation would have received a boost and the people of Gujarat would not have faced the difficulties they are facing now,” he said.
UK’s gesture comes at a key moment, and Modi did not allow its significance to be lost.
“Today, UK has announced that they will engage with Gujarat. Manmohan Singh in Delhi may or may not realise its importance, but UK has realised Gujarat’s importance.” Tomorrow, entire Europe will follow suit, he added.
Taking a dig at the UPA government over the issue of corruption, he exhorted the public not to hand over Gujarat to “corrupt people and scamsters”.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi might come to Gujarat, but the state would “not go into the hands of corrupt people”, he added.
During his yatra, Modi toured 150 assembly constituencies and addressed more than two dozen public rallies. In most of them, Sonia Gandhi and Singh have been his targets. “Narendra Modi wants to focus on Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He does not want to divert his focus from them now,” said a BJP leader close to Modi.
The chief minister, however, remained silent on the controversy surrounding Robert Vadra, who has been accused of receiving favours from realty major DLF. (With PTI inputs)