Congress challenges Modi for public debate on Gujarat growth model

Following the flaunting of the Gujarat model of growth repeatedly by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress on Thursday came out and challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to a public debate on the model at a time and place of his convenience.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said here today that the much talked about 'Modi model of governance' should be debated in front of the people of India, leaving them to decide between "fact and fiction".

" As I earlier said that the Chief Minister of Gujarat (Narendra Modi) is in the habit of making a statement a day. It is not essential to respond to it. If at all the Chief Minister of Gujarat does believe in the efficacy of his governance model, we invite him to a public debate at a time and place of his own choosing. Let him debate the governance model and the people of this country will be able to sift fact from fiction", Tewari said.

On being asked if the invitation to the challenge was solely on the topic of the Gujarat model of governance or if the Congress party was open to debate the human rights record with Modi, Tewari reacted saying "I don't think there is any debate required on his human rights record. I think his human rights record speaks for itself. So therefore, something which is so self-speaking, so stark, so evident and so ominous I don't think that requires a debate."

Modi has peppered the political discourse with controversial comments like comparing his anguish over the 2002 riots with a "puppy coming under a car" analogy and attacking the Congress for hiding behind a "burqa of secularism".

The 'Modi model of governance' has attracted much attention as the country gears up for the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. According to sources, Tewari had told Congressmen on Thursday that Modi is going to be an issue in the upcoming elections and that the party has to face the challenge upfront.

Yesterday, Modi spoke at an event in Ahmedabad where he launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over the deteriorating condition of Indian economy, saying policymakers have lost the confidence and capacity to take decisions.