‘BJP weaving an environment of terror’

AHMEDABAD: Congress is playing the development card to the hilt - and what better way to wield it than get the economist prime minister Manmohan Singh to talk about development issues and urbanisation.

Addressing a modest crowd of not more than 2,000 at Sanskar Kendra here on Tuesday afternoon, PM said the state government is falsely creating a scare of terrorism in the state and an environment of fear, which is not conducive to development. “Gujaratis are known for their business acumen and achievements the world over. Everyone is proud of Gujaratis but we are ashamed of Gujarat government’s actions,” he said.

Playing safe after the EC notice, Singh did not utter the word Narendra Modi or even BJP in his entire speech. “Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Hyderabad are at par, but in terms of development, they are poles apart. Why is there no development in the IT sector? The state suffers from power deficiency; how can new industries be set up? There is no electricity for irrigation. In such circumstances, how can Gujarat be the number one state?” he said.

The prime minister also sought to downplay the statement of CPM general secretary Prakash Karat regarding the possibility of mid-term poll in the country. When asked for his reaction on Karat’s statement said: “I would not comment on what appears in the press. I have been holding negotiations with IAEA and left parties have backed us for the same.” He refused to answer the queries on the mid-term polls saying that his government would cross the bridge when it comes to it.

s_jumana@dnaindia.net