The Modi government in Gujarat is promoting lop-sided development in which only a handful of industrialists get undue benefits while the state is slipping down in the investment front compared to other states, said Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil.
To substantiate his allegation, Mr Gohil said, “The state government has given 11.15 crore square metre of lands at throw-away prices at various locations in the state. Even common grazing plots have been parceled out to the industry by the government.”
“During the Congress rule in the state, Gujarat had attracted projects like Reliance and Essar refineries, General Motor manufacturing plant and many other industrial projects,” he said, adding that Gujarat had ranked number one in attracting investment in industrial sector in 1992 when the Congress was ruling the state.
He demanded a probe by a joint legislative committee (JLC) comprising MLAs from the BJP and Congress to probe irregularities and corruption the Narendra Modi government has allegedly committed by giving undue benefits to certain industrial houses.
According to him, three companies — Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), Universal Success Enterprise and technocrat Shabir Bhatia’s firm — had signed MoUs worth `2 lakh crores during the last Vibrant Summit in 2009. However, the company officials have not even bothered to visit the state after inking MoUs.
He said despite the so-called huge investment in the state, Gujarat’s public debt has reached to `1.17 lakh crores after Mr Modi took over as CM in 2001. “Even CAG has expressed its concern over rising public debt of the state government,” he said referring to the CAG report on financial health of the state.