Former CMs contributed more for development of Guj: Urmilaben Patel

Says CMs before Modi had made more contributions than the BJP leader who was more interested in publicity

Attacking Narendra Modi for taking credit for development in Gujarat, former chief minister Chimanbhai Patel's wife Urmilaben Patel today said that the CMs before Modi had made more contributions than the BJP leader who was more interested in publicity.

"It is not the work of a single chief minister, every chief minister after independence had left his stamp on the development of Gujarat. Some people give credit to only one chief minister, however, it is otherwise," the former union minister said while talking to reporters here.

She said, while Hitendra Desai, who completed his three terms as chief minister gave a boost to education, Balwant Rai Mehta's panchayat movement became a model for other states.

Patel attributed rise of Gujarat in field of trade to former chief minister Madhav Singh Solanki.

"He opened facilities for traders with an aim that people of every strata would be benefited. Modi extended these facilities further as a result foundation of progress that was started by Solanki got a boost and it is reflected in Gujarat today," former Union minister Patel said.

Modi, she said, gave more weightage to publicity unlike previous chief ministers, who contributed more on development.

She further claimed that former chief minister Chimanbhai Patel had not only took permission for Narmada dam project but also completed 83.6 per cent work during his tenure.

"Modi had virtually completed the remaining work." She said that Madhya Pradesh was getting power from hydro-power generated from the project, Rajasthan was also getting water from it.

Patel was critical of the Mundra port project agreement with China, saying it would open jobs to 85,000 unemployed youth of China, instead of Gujarat.