Modi rages against UPA after Lokayukta verdict

Will not bow before "Delhi Sultanate"

PTI | January 20, 2012



A day after Gujarat high court verdict against his government in Lokayukta case, chief minister Narendra Modi On Thursday targeted the centre, saying it may "use constitutional bodies against the state" but Gujarat will not bow before "Delhi Sultanate".

"Use all constitutional bodies against us, use all constitutional posts against us, and please see you do not get late in using them," he said addressing a gathering after his day-long 'Sadbhavna Mission' fast in this South Gujarat town.

"This Delhi Sultanate should listen carefully, Gujarat will never perform 'mujara' (paid dance) in Delhi 'Darbar'. Do whatever you can. Those days (of dependence on centre for funds) are gone. We are not a bankrupt state," the BJP stalwart thundered.

"The problem is that people of Gujarat have not given anything to Congress for the last so many years, and that is the reason they (Congress leaders) are targeting me."

"I tell people of Gujarat to continue not giving anything to Congress. Till we have blessings of six crore people of Gujarat, nobody can defeat us," Modi said.

Modi's attack on the Congress-led UPA government came after Justice V M Sahai of Gujarat HC rejected the state's plea on the Lokayukta issue yesterday. The Judge had severely criticised Modi and said the "pranks" played by the chief minister on the Lokayukta issue "demonstrates destruction of our democracy".

Modi alleged the centre was misusing constitutional offices like that of Governor to "destroy public life of Gujarat".

The Lokayukta issue landed in the court after Governor Kamla appointed Justice (retd) R A Mehta as head of the anti- corruption body in August last year by "bypassing the State government".

"I will collect all the bricks and stones thrown at me and construct a new Gujarat. This is our Sadbhavna. But remember, people of Gujarat will not forgive those who speak bad of the state in public.

"I would have been happy if Congress had talked about development like us...or it had fulfilled promise given during 2009 general elections of bringing down inflation within 100 days," Modi said.

"Gujaratis are simple people. We challenge the Delhi Sultanate, Dr Manmohan Singhji (prime minister) to come and compete with us on development front. I am confident we will defeat the Delhi Sultanate," the BJP leader asserted.

The chief miister said, "Till I have the shield of protection of six crore people of Gujarat, none of your arrows will penetrate my body."

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