Ahmedabad, 19 September 2012

Gujarat Congress today roped in Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma to fight Gujarat BJP’s campaign against “injustice” to Gujarat by Congress-led UPA in centre.

Anand Sharma shared a list of figures to show poor picture of Gujarat. He also said:

-We had to give two advertisements on cotton and meat export, but we didn’t politicize it and didn’t name the Chief Minister.

-They spend govt money to blame the centre. This is very sad issue for our democracy, our constitution that union minister has to come here to clarify the things. If Modi wants to criticize central govt, let him do that through his own money.

-The CM is not able to go to many countries, but let CM fight a Lok Sabha election in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi can fight election anywhere in the country, even in Gujarat he can fight the poll and win.

-The CM is spending govt money in yatra. Modi is on yatra in the name of Swami Vivekananda, but his yatra has no connection with Vivekananda’s ideology. He is using Vivekananda’s name for political gains.

-I don’t want to take the debate to such a lower level that Modi has adopted. Our samskar in Congress doesn’t permit that.

-I heard Gujarat CM’s reaction to FDI policy. It was like Modi had either lost mental balance. As many as 90 countries have FDI provision, but without any rider. We have made it conditional.

-Union govt has given Rs 13,500 crore to Gujarat in Textile sector.

-Union govt has approved Rs 790 crore for Gujarat to set up SIT which would give direct employment to 29,000 and indirect employment to 51,348 people.

-The UPA govt has executed world’s largest integrated Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor project which would pass through six states, but 44-45% of its total length will be in Gujarat. It is UPA that has declared it as integrated industrial zone. India’s largest industrial town Dholera (990 sq.km) has been approved in Gujarat by central govt. This will provide employment to seven lakh people in total and attract investment of Rs 73,000 crore.

-Gujarat has been given seven projects in NTC. Of them two are given to Gujarat Agro Industries Bharuch and Mahuva, while four to Gujarat State Marketing.

-UPA has approved over 2,622 hand loom and power loom clusters in Gujarat. Gems and Jewelry Surat diamond industry’s one center has been approved for Ahmedabad. Chemical cluster projects are completed in Ahmedabad, Ankleshwar and Vapi.

-National Institute of Design(NID) will be declared the Institute of Excellence by central govt. An act will be approved for this. Center will set up two centers for this.

-44 textile mills are closed at present and the Chief Minister speaks about cotton export.

-There’s no truth that central govt gives subsidy for cow meat export.

Reacting to Anand Sharma’s statements, Gujarat govt spokesperson minister Shri Saurabh Shah said:

-Congress party’s lies stay exposed. On one hand they ban cotton export, on the other hand they give subsidy to meat export. The central govt has gifted Rs 15,000 crore economic loss to Gujarat’s lakhs of farmers through cotton export ban. Now Mr. Anand Sharma wants to speak on Textile projects and mislead the farmers.

-Mr. Anand Sharma should clearly state whether the central govt gives subsidy for mutton and beef producing slaughter houses or not? Sharma should give answer that, on 1st of April 2012 their government implied Rs 2500 per tonne export duty or not?

-If Mr. Anand Sharma has officially accepted the fact that in Gujarat while in 2001 there were 31.8 lakh below poverty line people, the latest figure is 39.10 lakh, then Gujarat govt demands that the union govt should provide kerosene, cooking oil and grain supply for 39.10 lakh BPL families. At present the union govt considers only 21.4 lakh BPL people suitable for supply. This clearly proves central govt’s injustice when it comes to Gujarat’s poor peple.

-The Union minister stated Gujarat’s literacy, dropout, infant mortality figures, but he forgets that it was misgovernance of past Congress governments that gave such Gujarat to Narendra Modi in 2001.

Gujarat BJP says, let Congress field Rahul in Gujarat

Reacting to Anand Sharma’s statements, Gujarat BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja today in a statement said that on one side Rahul Gandhi is shying to come to Gujarat, and on the other side the central minister says that Rahul can win if he contests from Gujarat. In such a situation let Congress field Rahul in Gujarat election battle, and prove his mettle.

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