Valsad, 6 April, 2012

Inaugurating the world’s biggest Para cresol manufacturing plant of Atul Limited at Ankleshwar, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today took strong exception to a sustained smear campaign against Gujarat as a major conspiracy to shift industries to Maharashtra.

Shri Modi said it is not just a part of political agenda to belittle Gujarat’s industrial march but a move to malign Gujarat. He asked people to be alert against such lies.

He said that Gujarat has progressed by leaps and bounds during the last decade, marching ahead of its traditional chemicals base to pharmaceutical sector. While Gujarat’s industrial development was restricted to Golden Corridor up to Ankleshwar and Vapi in south Gujarat along the National Highway so far has now spread across the state. This has been possible due to the government’s comprehensive and transparent industrial policy.

Those who level allegations now that Gujarat Government has been selling land for industrial development had, in fact, themselves sold fertile agricultural land up to Ankleshwar and Vapi in the past, depriving the farmers adequate compensation. On the contrary, he said, the present government ensures industrial development takes place in wastelands near the seacoasts and Rann of Kutch. This has resulted in once backwards regions reaping benefits of industrial development. Today Bharuch and Kutch had become the fastest growing states in the country.

The Chief Minister said that Gujarat is one state which has laid stress on equitable growth of agriculture, industries and service sectors simultaneously. Several Asian countries want to partner Gujarat’s development. Gujarat is another state with almost ‘zero man-days’ loss, reflecting the state’s enviable industrial peace.

Those present on the occasion included Forest and Environment Minister Mangubhai Patel, Minister of State for Cooperation, Youth Services and Cultural Affairs Ishwarbhai Patel, Bharuch MLA Dushyant Patel, District Panchayat President Manhar Gohil, District Collector Roopwant Singh, besides top brass of Atul Limited, government officers and office-bearers.