UPA is discriminating against states not ruled by Cong: Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched an all out attack on the Centre by saying that the Centre discriminates against non-Congress ruled states, while addressing industrialists in Kolkata. “The Centre is discriminating against non-Congress ruled states. I see this happening with West Bengal too,” Modi said at the meet jointly organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce, MCC Chamber of Commerce and the Bharat Chamber of Commerce. [caption id=“attachment_691702” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Narendra Modi. AFP[/caption] Attacking the UPA government he said that it has come to a standstill. “During Vajpayee’s government, there was never a cry from Bengal that it was being discriminated against, but now that is happening,” Modi said. He also brought up the Italian marines issue saying that Indian prisoners were not allowed to attend their mother’s funerals, but the Italian marines were allowed to travel to another country to celebrate Christmas. “I don’t know how a country like Italy is able to scare us, the Supreme Court had to get involved,” he said. Holding responsible the Centre-state divide for problems in implementing policies, he said, “The Centre’s performance depends on state government’s performance, but the Centre does not care about this. Bengal has to raise its voice against such things,” and added, “India’s federal structure is being overlooked by the UPA. The UPA government doesn’t even bother to open pending files.” He added: “In Gujarat, I spent 10 years in filling potholes which the Congress created … here, they (Left government) made potholes for 30 years but the present (Mamata Banerjee-led) government is going in right direction,” he said. With inputs from IANS