Government biased against non-UPA states: Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi criticised UPA's governance, stating the government at the centre is not "interested in the development of the country".

Yahoo! India News 

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lambasted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for discriminating against the non-UPA states, while addressing a group of industrialists in Kolkata.

In his address, Modi said, "Government discriminates against non-UPA states while allocating funds for development, including West Bengal. States will have to raise their voices against this discrimination."

Reaching out to industrialists in Bengal, the Gujarat CM said Bengal is the gateway for development of North and North East but it has been ignored by the present UPA government. "For 32 years, Kolkata suffered due to Left's (government) mis-governance. Bengal never complained of discrimination during Vajpayee's rule, "Modi said.              

Modi criticised UPA's governance, stating the government at the centre is not "interested in the development of the country".

He said, "Central government's work machinery is at a standstill. India's federal structure is being overlooked by the UPA. UPA government is like the old man, waiting for the evening to set."

Modi also criticsied prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's government, saying that it has failed to control the rising inflation of the country.

He said, "A committee has been formed to see how to reduce inflation and it has been over one year that the report has been submitted. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appreciated it as well, but we never heard of it again. The prime minister is yet to act even after a year."

Stating Gujarat's initiative of improving agricultural standards, Modi said it's high time that India focuses on making amends in agricultural sector.

He said, "Gujarat will organise agro tech fest for farmers every two years. Manufacturing, service and agriculture are the three pillars of development. Per capita income does not increase unless we accept a growth model.

"We need to better harness technology to market agro-products in India. Earlier the Supreme Court took serious note on grain rot, yet no action by the government. Grain is rotting and given to breweries."

Stressing that his trip to Bengal was not a political one, Modi said he will not meet the state's chief minister in his trip.

Gujarat's development model

Modi cited some of his achievements as Gujarat chief minister. He said Gujarat's power generation is one of the major achievements in his tenure as the state chief minister.

"When I was elected, the major demand was that of electricity. People implored me to provide adequate power to state as they didn't have electricity even during dinner," Modi said. "Today, Gujarat is surplus in electricity generation from a state having shortfall, at a time when other states are lagging in electricity."

Modi condemned UPA's inability to increase power generation in the country. He said UPA has "kept the country in the dark" while adding that power stations in the country do not have adequate power to produce electricity.

Further lambasting the UPA-led government, Modi stated that power stations in the country with capacity of 20,000 mega watt have shut down. He blamed government's delay in decision-making for the power shortfall in India.

Further praising Gujarat's development model, he said, today there is a 'farm-to-fibre-to-fashion-to-factory model in Gujarat. '

"We focused on tourism in Gujarat. Tourism in Gujarat is double the tourism growth of entire India in the past two years," he added.

Modi also censured government's foreign policy. Referring to the mutilation of Indian soldier's by Pakistani soldiers, Modi criticised UPA government for not taking a strong stand against its neighbouring country.

He said, "Our soldiers get beheaded and we host lunch for their leaders. The apex of the country had to intervene in the Italian marines' row to bring them back to country which was the government's job."