Raj on Gujarat tour to study development, speaks Hindi

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and said that it was time to banish political untouchability. Thackeray is on a 10-day visit to Gujarat to study the development model adopted by Modi's government

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and said that it was time to banish political untouchability. Thackeray is on a 10-day visit to Gujarat to study the development model adopted by Modi's government.

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Both Modi and Thackeray denied any political motive.

"You have to appreciate the fact that Raj will spend 10 days studying development practices instead of holidaying in Switzerland or some other place," said Modi. Responding to this, Thackeray praised the Modi government and said, "I have great respect for Modi. The work his government has done, no other government in the country has been able to do."

Thackeray, who will be visiting several projects in the state during his tour, spoke to the media in Hindi for the first time since the formation of his party. "I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. Since I cannot speak Gujarati, I prefer Hindi," MNS chief said.