Vaghela comes down heavily on Modi govt

Union textiles minister for textiles and senior Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela today came down heavily on the BJP-ruled government in Gujarat.

He said the government of Gujarat and CM Narendra Modi have not made any budgetary provisions for the recently-launched schemes like Vanbandhu Yojana, Sagarkhedu Yojana and many more.

"However, the CM is taking credit for this. But, the question is from where will he get the funds," Vaghela asked.

Vaghela was addressing reporters here on Thursday at a press conference of Union textiles ministry. Vaghela said, "CM and his government has launched many schemes like Vanbandhu Yojana for tribals and Sagarkhedu Yojana for coastal farmers and fishermen. However, he has not made any budgetary provisions for these schemes in the state budget. From where will he get the funds?"

The schemes fall under the next five year plan and the Centre anyway gives 50 per cent of the funds for the plan.

"On the other hand, the UPA government has funded the state government with grants of over Rs 40,000 crore only for the urban development during the last three years." Interestingly, throughout the media briefing Vaghela kept referring to Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as 'Mr Natwarlal' and the state government as 'Mr Natwarlal's government'.

Posing a question on much-hyped Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summits, Vaghela claimed, "Not even 10 per cent of the promised investment has materialised from the investment promised through MoUs signed during Vibrant Gujarat events. If his government's claims are right then I ask the state government to issue a white paper and make the figures public."

"Only the five crorepatis have gained from such events. The state government has made industrialists happy with allowing them tax rebates worth Rs 15,000 crore. On the other hand he does not make any provisions for the tribal upliftment scheme."

Vaghela also flayed the state government for not fulfilling its promise to provide one lakh jobs in the textiles sector. He claimed that during the last five years the BJP-ruled government has only employed 3,000 people.