 "Chavan dubs Modi's development model as marketing technique")
"Crores of rupees are being spent on marketing and elements who are keen to pursue the corporate agenda through Modi are supporting him," Chavan said while inaugurating the two-day national council meeting of the All India Mahila Congress Committee here. "Maharashtra is the premier state in the country in terms of state income and second in terms of per capita income after Haryana," he said, adding that it is the most industrialised state with largest investment from India and abroad.
"Our neighbouring state through a strong PR network claims to be the most developed state. We have no problem. It's good to be competitive," he said, adding that Maharashtra was doing very well in economic as well as social parameters.
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Chavan charged that his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi's "theatrics", like the claim of his camp of rescuing 15,000 Gujaratis from rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, were now exposed. Social empowerment and financial inclusion of the last person in the society was the USP of the party, he said.
"Public mood was against divisive and hate politics. BJP has again brought in issues which it had given up, like Ram temple, uniform civil code and repeal of Article 370, since they have no chance of electoral success," he alleged.
The hint of public sentiment in favour of Congress was evident from the good performance of the party in Sangli municipal corporation election results and Pune local bodies by-election, he said.
Congress needs to be on guard as attempts may be made to create communal disturbance as important elections are round the corner, the chief minister said.
"Congress defeated the NCP convincingly in Sangli bagging 40 of the total 76 seats while in Pune, Congress candidate got 4,500 votes while NCP finished a distant 4th with 700 votes," he said. The food security and direct cash transfer programmes of the UPA government need to be propagated among the people. According to him, direct cash transfer will stop leakage of subsidies, Chavan said.
"Mahila Congress should play an important role in this aspect. You can directly reach 50 per cent of the population. Women today have got a voice in their own homes. Young girls discuss politics with their fathers, argue what they feel is right or wrong and talk about equality. It is the Congress policies which have brought about this change," he said.
Maharashtra was the first state to introduce a women's policy in 1994. "This year we have put the draft of our 3rd women's policy for public debate. A lot of suggestions and recommendations have been received which will soon be compiled and presented to the legislature," he said.
Women in the state have been given ownership rights in family properties, he added.
Chavan asked women to highlight the achievements of the states where Congress was in power as compared to the performance of the states governed by BJP.