BJP to talk to non-UPA CMs over UPA's apathy

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has decided to speak to all the non-United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chief ministers to build a case against the Union government for what the right-wing party terms as the Centre’s discrimination against the Opposition-ruled states.

At the day-long chief ministers’ conclave of BJP-ruled states, the attack on the Union government was led by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who blamed the Centre for blocking the project of supplying piped gas through underground pipes by the Gujarat Natural Gas Corporation. Modi, in his presentation, said although the project was in place in Mumbai and Delhi, the Congress government at the Centre was blocking the project in Gujarat on purpose.

The Gujarat chief minister also attacked the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and said that the one of the most visible and large scale failures of the UPA government was financial management, even though the PM is a reputed economist.

ALLIANCE STRATEGY

• BJP to speak to non-UPA CM's 
• Centre's discrimation with Opposition-ruled states vis-a-vis Congress-ruled states to be on agenda
• The centre, alleges the BJP, is blocking projects in BJP-ruled states
• Gujarat CM Narendra Modi criticises Union ministers attitude towards stae govt-controlled departments

“The Congress government at the Centre is deliberately blocking projects in BJP ruled states like the highway and railway projects in Himachal Pradesh, power plant projects in Madhya Pradesh. Since all BJP-ruled states are suffering, we have decided to build a case after talking to all the non-Congress chief ministers to put pressure on the Union government,” said a senior leader of the BJP.

The BJP leadership has also decided to use the issue of alleged attack on federal structure by the UPA government to try and expand the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “We have decided to join hands with Opposition-ruled states and highlight the discriminatory policies of the UPA at different forums,” the BJP leader said. Chief ministers of BJP-ruled states also complained to senior leaders that the Union government was trying to take credit out of the projects implemented in the states and the Centre should not draw credit on success or make interventions for political benefits.

“The central ministers have been calling up departments directly and asking them to report to them and arrange their field visits. There is a disrespect for clear boundaries between states and the Centre,” the BJP leader added.