By our correspondent, Ahmedabad, 29 May 2013

Speaking to DeshGujarat today morning, Union Cabinet Minister Shri Dinsha Patel said that he met Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Tuesday primarily for Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Memorial construction work issue, but other things were discussed too during the meeting.

There are speculations about your meeting with Mr. Modi.What was the content of this meeting?

People are speculating, but should not I meet Mr. Modi when there’s some important work? Is that something that I should not visit Gandhinagar? And when there’s some work shouldn’t I meet the CM? I visited Narendra Modi in connection with construction of memorial of nation’s proud son Sardar Patel. We are building a grand memorial of Sardar Patel, but some people obstruct the work and I am harassed, and therefore I went to tell Mr. Modi that the state government is in capacity to help us in this regard. I have special feelings for Sardar saheb. Please help us, in whatever capacity you can.

There’s some heritage related issue with that building, you haven’t clarified your position on it!

It is not heritage building at all. It was used as residential building and there has been history of several additions and changes in construction of this building in past. It we don’t strengthen this building it will collapse in future. Some time back some stones collapsed. The building is standing with external supports. The building was deleted from the list of heritage building. In 1961 certificate was given. I have submitted letters and documents in this regard. The work we are doing is about Sardar Saheb. He was the proud son of Gujarat and this nation. You come and visit the memorial, how we are upgrading it. The task will take only 3-4 months to complete, and at such time some people want to obstruct it.

What were the other things talked about during the meeting?

I want to execute Kutch alumina plant as early as possible. The plant will come up near Mundra in Kutch district of Gujarat. It’s a joint project with Gujarat government run GMDC. I also talked about Gur Lions, that they should stay in Gujarat. I told CM that we are in support of Gujarat government and believe that lions should stay in Gujarat.

CM speaks about Narmada project in rallies. As you are a union minister, did he speak about Narmada issue?

No. Narmada was not talked. The alumina project and Gir lion topics were raised by me.

Any political angle of this meeting?

Not political at all. When there’s some issue, we should meet, and we do meet. The logic and speculations that Dinsha may join BJP etc are wrong.