Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that the success of the 108 emergency response service (ERS) was a befitting answer to his detractors who had called the introduction of the services as a gimmick by BJP to win the 2007 Assembly elections in the State.

"In August 2007 some people stated making statements that Modi was trying new things to win elections, it was his new trick," Modi said after dedicating the Emergency Management Centre (EMC) in Kathwada area here to the people of the State.

"Those with political ambitions also spoke against the services. This over 400 ambulances which have saved the lives of poor people is an answer to those people making false statements about the 108 ERS," he added.

The 108 ERS is a joint venture between the state government and the GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The BJP leader said politicising essential services like the 108 service, was a result of a perverse mindset. "This same 108 service, the way it has developed in Gujarat, if it had happened in some other country, our people would have written books about it," he added.

The new EMC dedicated to the public today is spread over 15 acre land with power and communication interruption protection and an online automated building maintenance system.