Targeting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for giving undue favours to industrialists, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Monday said that the BJP leader has created a new cult of of 'crony capitalists'.
"During the release of the BJP manifesto, Modi had said that following development in the state a new middle class has emerged over the last 11 years of his rule. But the reality is that in the last decade of BJP rule Modi has created a cult of 'crony capitalists'. Which means that in name of industrialization only a select few of Modi's industrialist friends have benefitted," Tewari claimed.
Accusing Modi of fudging figures on development Tiwari said, "The Modi government has distracted people by presented false figures on the state's development. If it is so then why Gujarat ranks eighth among Indian states in the Human Development Index. Why was he not implementing the Right To Education (RTE)?"
Tiwari further listed a number of questions related to education quality, reading ability of students in Gujarat schools, anemia among women in the state and why number of homeless persons in the state has increased in BJP rule.
"I want to ask the Modi government to explain why there was no Lokayukta in the state, and the if the state was so progressive why state's public debt was over Rs 1.4 lakh crore. Also, why has Gujarat's GDP growth has declined to fifth position?" he further asked.
Tiwari said that a government's job was to work for the welfare of the people and not for welfare of the capitalists. "Time has come for decisive change of leadership in Gujarat," he added.
Reacting to Modi's comment that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's had lied during his election speech on Sunday in Vansada, Tiwari quipped, "Modi does not know how to read the speech of the PM. He is simply using shoot and scoot technique and evading questions on economic and social development of the state."
He further raised the issue of sore deal between state-run Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) and Canadian oil exploration company Geo Global Resources (GGR). Tiwari claimed that Modi government had no answer to the favours given to the GGR.
The first phase of the Gujarat assembly polls will take place on December 13, while the second will be held on December 17. Counting of votes will take place on December 20.
