Modhvadia’s ‘cow and dog’ remark creates uproar in assembly

The Gujarat House Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes today during the ‘Question Hour’ following an uproar over comments made by state Congress president Arjun Modhvadia.

During discussion on a question on public debt and payment of interest by the state, Modhvadia said, “It is like milking a cow to feed the dog.”

Modhvadia’s comment led to uproar in the House with BJP MLAs shouting slogans against the Congress and demanding action against Modhvadia. Congress members also shouted back saying that there was nothing wrong with the comment.

Following the uproar, Speaker Ganpat Vasava, adjourned the House for half an hour. After coming out of the House, Modhvadia said, “I meant that Gujarat government was increasing their public debt and to repay it was levying huge taxes on people of the state.” “Instead of using the loan money for public welfare it is using it to dole out benefits to industrial houses,” he said.
Citing example of the Tata Nano car project, Modhvadia alleged that the state had given benefits of Rs 30,000 crore to the group. He further claimed that the Narendra Modi led government had made Gujarat, the state with highest per head debt.

“When a child is born in a state, he has Rs 18,000 debt over his head,” he added. Meanwhile, BJP took offence to Modhvadia’s comments and said it will seek an apology from him. “By making such comments senior leader like Modhvadia had cause insult to the House,” Gujarat government’s spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas said. “We will seek an apology from him in the House,” he added.