Arvind Kejriwal resorting to 'rank falsehood' about Gujarat's development: BJP

BJP tonight accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of resorting to "rank falsehood" in giving figures on Gujarat's development and said doing this is part of his politics which it termed as "theatrics". "Arvind Kejriwal is resorting to rank falsehood by making sweeping allegations against Gujarat government and Narendra Modi...Kejriwal is committing fake encounters with facts which is part of his DNA and politics, which is nothing but theatrics," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

He also charged the AAP leader with acting like a "front of Congress" as he has not spoken against Congress or Sonia Gandhi in Agusta Westland bribery case.

On the gas pricing issue, the BJP leader said it is well known that the Standing Committee on Finance headed by Yashwant Sinha has sought a review of the entire pricing issue keeping the consumer interest in mind, a stand supported by Gujarat government in principle. 

Prasad said the gas pricing issue is between the government of India and contractors and Gujarat government has no say in it. "He (Kejriwal) did not utter a single word on farmer suicides rampant in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, both states ruled by Congress. He also did not speak on unemployment in the country," Prasad said. "Mr Kejriwal is making false allegations about Gujarat government without any evidence whatsoever," he said.

Prasad cited figures saying the growth rate of agriculture in Gujarat has been 11% against the national average of 3% as per Planning Commission figures, whereas Gujarat has 68% irrigated land against 15.5% at national level.

He said in Modi's tenure as Chief Minister, primary school dropouts have declined from 20% to 2% and PSUs in the state have turned around giving a net profit of Rs 4,041 crore against a net loss of 2,702 crore in 2001.