Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Modi blames Cong., Left parties for communal riots

By Our Staff Reporter

PUTTAPARTHI Nov. 7. Politics in India during the last 50 years has been based on negativism, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, observed here today. But the scenario had since changed, as the people's mood is slowly turning to positivism, he said during his brief visit to the spiritual town in Anantapur district.

In a brief chat with newspersons, he said that nobody could win the elections with a negative approach in the current circumstances. "Whatever type of government we form we have to work with positivism,'' he stressed. He also welcomed realignment of political forces and formation of new alliances in an indirect reference to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's recent remarks that she would maintain equidistance both from the Congress as well as the BJP.

He predicted that the BJP would come to power in four of the five States, where the Assembly elections were scheduled soon. He, however, refused to comment on the communal issues. He held the Congress and Left parties responsible for the communal disturbances in the country and also accused them of targeting the BJP to cover up their involvement. Claiming Gujarat as the best investment destination in the world today, Mr. Modi said major investors worldwide had their eyes on the State, adding that investments to the tune of Rs. 66,000 crores had already come to Gujarat. Explaining on the agenda of his Government, the Gujarat Chief Minister said they were aiming to take the development to the poorest of the poor in society. Accordingly, his Government had recently launched `Shramayogi' scheme, in which 1 lakh families below the poverty line in that State would be provided a minimum of 150 working days. The new scheme would be the breadwinner for at least five families in each village to be identified, based on their economic status, Mr. Modi said.

The Planning Commission is expecting 8.2 per cent economic growth from Gujarat in the current year, he observed and exuded confidence that they would achieve it. He stated that the target set for Gujarat was the highest in the country as well as in many Asian countries. Earlier, immediately after his arrival, Mr. Modi was closeted with Satya Saibaba for half an hour as part of the special darshan. On his arrival by a special flight, he was welcomed by the Superintendent of Police, Anil Kumar, the BJP legislator from Kadiri, M.S. Parthasarathi, and the party leaders, B.S.Vidyasagar and V. Pundareekaksha Reddy, among others. He stayed for about three hours in Prashanti Nilayam.

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