Don't threaten with CBI, I'm not afraid of it: Modi to Cong

Gujarat CM asks Union govt to devote more time to relief operations in Uttarakhand rather than misusing central agency for political gains

Do not threaten us with using Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said on Monday hit back at the Congress-led UPA government at the Center, who had criticised Modi for politicising the Uttarakhand tragedy.

He further asked the Union government to devote more time for relief operations in Uttarakhand, rather than misusing the central agency for political gains. Modi was speaking at Swami Vivekananda Youth Employment Week at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

“Because of the fear of CBI we will not ruin the future of youth of Gujarat. I am aware of the turn things can take but we are prepared. I am not the one who is scared of CBI,” Modi said taking a jibe at Congress on Monday.

He went on to say, "With every passing day the (Union) government is hatching new conspiracies and their biggest tool is the CBI which has now become Congress Bureau of Investigation. I tell the government in Delhi, do not show us the fear of CBI."

The chief minister also warned the Centre on spreading lies about Gujarat, and instead asked them to concentrate on relief and rescue work in the Uttarkhand.

“CBI is working in political matters. You use the CBI to jail Modi, his ministers but spend that much time on relief work in Uttarakhand. Spend time to serve those who are suffering and if you want to complete, let us compete, on how many jobs we can given to the youth and how many jobs you can give to the youth," the chief minister said.

Congress on Sunday had targeted Modi and said he wants to become a "Rambo", while dismissing reports that he had helped in evacuation of 15,000 stranded people from Uttarakhand in two days.

Accusing Modi of milking the tragedy in Uttarakhand for political reasons, Congress leader and I&B minister Manish Tewari said that after making a "tourist detour" via the deluge affected state to reach Pathankot some people were tom-tomming "myths" they had rescued thousands of people.