Maharashtra based RPI leader Ramdas Athwale called on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in Gandhinagar. Athwale told PTI over phone that Modi congratulated him for supporting the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra.

“Modi said earlier RPI was part of UPA and was opposed to Sena-BJP and that although late, it is better that we are with the Sena-BJP combine,” Athawale said.

Athawale said he told Modi about the difficulties faced by the around 25 lakh people of Maharashtrian origin in Gujarat, including Dalits, in procuring domicile certificate.

The people hail from places like Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar and parts of Vidarbha, he said.

“The Gujarat Chief Minister assured me that he would look into the matter,” he said.

“Modi told us that the Gujarat government has improved irrigation and agriculture. It has also started a “108 ambulance” scheme wherein an ambulance reaches rural areas within 10 to 15 minutes, free of charge,” the RPI leader said, adding he would take up the matter with Maharashtra Chief Minister for starting such a service in the state.