Gujarat Congress livid with Modi's poll manifesto
Ahmedabad, Dec 3 (ANI)
Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia today hit out at Narendra Modi's poll manifesto for the upcoming assembly polls, and termed it to be a cruel joke on the people of the state.
Modhwadia said that the law and order situation is in shambles with over 14,000 children missing. "Under the governance of Narendra Modi, crime against children has increased and almost 14,000 children have been reportedly missing. Nothing has been done in this regard. The police are busy promoting Modi's political ambitions and have sidelined the safety of the people of the state," he said.
Modhwadia claimed that the state's GDP has declined from 16 percent to 9.5 percent.
"The overall growth rate of the country has increased to 8.5 percent whereas the GDP of Gujarat has declined from 16 percent to 9.5 percent. Modi talks of double-digit growth and competition with countries like, Germany. In states like Bihar, the GDP growth is 14.5 percent. Gujarat is lagging behind in this regard," he said.
Modhwadia also lashed at Modi for not reopening over 57,000 industrial units that have been shut.
"Under the governance of the Congress Party, small and medium enterprises were given a lot of importance. We had established 180 industrial estates in the state. On the contrary, under Modi's governance only two industrial estates were established. More than 57,000 industries are not operating today due to mis-governanace," he told ANI in Ahmedabad.
Modi, who released the BJP's manifesto for the state assembly elections in Ahmedabad, earlier in the day said that it is a blueprint for development of all sections of the society.
The BJP's manifesto in poll-bound Gujarat promises to address the problems of urban and rural housing, water, and irrigation apart from resolving farmers' issues.
In its manifesto, the BJP has promised greater job opportunities for over 30 lakh youth of the state if it is voted back to power.
It also promises to set up new speciality hospitals in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and North Gujarat.
The party also promised to double the electricity output and assured farmers of cheaper loans. The manifesto said that in the next five years 16 lakh hectares of land would be irrigated.
The manifesto also talks about women empowerment, e-governance, urban and rural development, IT, new energy sources, development in adivasi-dominated areas, Dalit and neglected sections, wetland development, wind energy, promotion of ayurveda medicine, among other things.
Top BJP leaders, including Arun Jaitley shared stage with Modi, who is looking at a third consecutive term at the helm in Gujarat, during the unveiling of manifesto.