Ahmedabad, 12 October 2012

Sharply reacting to the allegations of injustice to Gujarat by UPA government made by Chief Minister during Vivekanand Yatra, leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shaktisinh Gohil said that the fact was that it was BJP at the centre which did injustice to Gujarat. He provided to media details from Gujarat government’s documents to prove his point. On the other hand, he said, Congress government at the centre always provided Gujarat more help.

Referring to the high pitch ad of injustice to Gujarat about reduction in railway line in Gujarat, Gohil said that railway line was reduced not by Congress government but BJP supported V P Singh’s government. Giving details he said that line which was 5396 kms in 1960 progressively increased to 5619 kms when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister. However, VP Singh led government reduced it to 5244 kms when it came to power in 1989-90. He quoted details from Socio- Economic review of Gujarat government for 2011-12.

Thus there was reduction of 375 kms during VP Singh rule and this was further reduced to 5186 during NDA rule. It is ironic that at that time L K Advani, MP, from Gandhinagar was Deputy Prime Minister, he said. However, UPA government increased it by 142 kms to 5328 kms, Gohil pointed out.

Instead of increase the length of national highways in Gujarat has been reduced from 2382 kms to 2354 kms in 2003-04 during the five years of NDA rule. However, in the first year of UPA government in 2004, it increased from 2354 kms to 2647 kms, around 290 kms. This further increased to 3245 kms in 2008-09, he said.

Similarly, he said in the case of Commercial banks, there was negligible increase of 22 branches during NDA rule. However, in the first year UPA rule the number of branches increased from 3689 to 3710 and in the six years it rose to 6433 and thus an increase of 2744 branches which is almost double the earlier figure.

Gohil said that it is evident from the facts and figures that NDA or BJP supported government has always done injustice to Gujarat while Congress has always favoured Gujarat. He challenged the Chief Minister for open debate on issue of the role of central government in giving relief to Gujarat.

Chief Minister is not able to get votes on the basis of his performance and so it has launched a false campaign against the centre.

He said that instead of thinking for people of Gujarat, Chief Minister was concerned about few industrialists only whom he has given grazing land and all other resources of Gujarat.

He has not increased pension of widows, not provided houses to homeless, employment to youth, neither cheaper education nor any reduction in VAT. No Narmada waters nor electricity to farmers. He is trying to distract attention of people by making ridiculous remarks.

Only those who are registered as voters in Gujarat can contest Assembly election here. Despite this fact CM is making a foolish challenging to the Prime Minister to contest election from Gujarat.