UPA prevented Narendra Modi's Gujarat government from doing better: BJP

The Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat would have performed "much better" had it not been for the discrimination meted out by the then Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, BJP said on Monday.

"The Modi government in Gujarat would have performed even better had there been no adverse relationship with the then Central government," Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters.

"We cannot forget the step-motherly treatment which the Congress meted out to non-Congress state governments," the Minister said. However, the present government at the Centre treats all states in the same manner, she said, responding to a query about Modi's appeal during poll rallies that people should elect BJP government in states as well, to ensure that development is fast tracked.

"The PM said that if there is a different party-led government in states, it should not make any difference, as it is the spirit of Team India," she said. Countering criticism that the PM has been addressing "too many rallies", she asked, "Are you so scared of Modi's presence, his success and vision that you want to keep him away? If Congress and NCP are scared of him, they better be.

Why shouldn't he come to Maharashtra?" 

Asked about post-poll tie-ups, possibly with former ally Shiv Sena, Sitharaman said, "I won't speculate on the post-poll scenario. We are confident of forming the government."

When asked about Shiv Sena and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena criticising the BJP, she said, "Our critics are aware that people are with us. This is a tactic to confuse voters and an attempt to divert focus from the failure of the 15-year old misrule of Congress and NCP."