Describing Gujarat's model of development as a 'self-awarded medal', Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said its Chief Minister Narendra Modi was selling a dream, but could not deliver results.
"What is the Gujarat model? I would like to know. Its a Gujarat medal or Gujarat model? Give yourself a medal and call it a Gujarat model," Sibal told industrialists at the annual general meeting of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here.
"Will Mr Modi tell us what is his economic model for coal, for power? Its easy to sell a dream. You tell a poor man that I will build a castle, he will buy your dream. Because dreams are meant to be bought. But you cannot deliver," he said.
Stating that three of the biggest industrial houses were in Gujarat, he said, "So the GDP of Gujarat will always be higher. But if we look at the social indicators of education and health. It is very poor."
Targeting Modi, the union minister said, "Did the man who wants to become the Prime Minister of this country ever talk about educational reforms? Has he ever given a view of that? Has he talked about gas pricing? Has he talked about what the policies in the power sector should be? We have no debate in this country on these issues."
Defending the UPA government's policies, he admitted that the population and the diversity of the nation made policy-making a big challenge for the government.
Sibal said in the last ten years the opposition was always questioning the policies of the UPA government without putting forward any alternative model.
