The Hindu : National : Modi and Dinsha Patel engage in verbal duel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Modi and Dinsha Patel engage in verbal duel

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Minister of State for Petroleum Dinsha Patel were publicly involved in a verbal duel over the ownership of the 108 emergency services.

This is a 24-hour emergency response service offered by the Hyderabad-based Emergency Medical Research Institute for road and fire accident victims that can be accessed by dialling 108.

The occasion was the inauguration of a pharmacy college in Nadiad in central Gujarat, the hometown of Mr. Patel, on Saturday where Mr. Modi was the chief guest.

In the course of his address, Mr. Modi, while appreciating the working of the company providing the emergency services, said that only after the introduction of 108 mobile ambulance services in Gujarat did he realise how such services should be provided to be truly helpful to the people.

“A blatant lie”

Pointing at Mr. Patel, who was seated next to him, Mr. Modi said some Congress leaders were trying to spread “misgivings” among the people that the 108 emergency services was the creation of the UPA government at the Centre. “It is a blatant lie, it is our State government’s programme and Gujarat is the first State to introduce it,” the Chief Minister repeatedly asserted despite protests from Mr. Patel.

Mr. Patel then got up from his chair. “108 is Central government’s project and I can prove it,” he shouted. He was also heard shouting that Andhra Pradesh was the first State where the Centre introduced the 108 emergency services under the rural development scheme and after its success there, it was decided to introduce them in Gujarat. But Mr. Modi refused to budge.

Mr. Patel waved some papers saying that he had the documents to prove his point. Later, however, the two leaders moved around various departments of the college together.

Mr. Patel requested the Chief Minister to take the initiative for setting up a medical college in Nadiad.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National