VBA chief Ambedkar criticizes PM Narendra Modi’s focus on Gujarat

CHANDRAPUR: Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar has lashed out at the pro-Gujarat attitude of PM Narendra Modi, and charged that he appears to be Prime Minister of Gujarat instead of India.
Ambedkar was in the city on Monday to take stock of preparations in his party for the upcoming municipal and zilla parishad elections in the district. “While other prime ministers held their international meets at big metro cities across the country, PM Modi is keen on holding every international programme in Gujarat only. Shifting two big industrial projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat is the outcome of his pro-Gujarat approach,” Ambedkar charged while interacting with media persons.
Ambedkar claimed that Japan has given a long term loan of 100 million Japanese Yen to India for railway development. The Railway Board had suggested infrastructure development to boost average speed of Indian trains, take up Rail on Way project to carry goods trucks in railway wagons, and build some railway lines. However, PM Modi focussed on Gujarat’s development and invested the entire sum in his pet project of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail, Ambedkar charged.
He also accused BJP minister Nitin Gadkari of deceiving the youths in Vidarbha in the name of Mihan project. “Gadkari had promised that Mihan is going to generate direct employment of 2 lakh and threefold indirect employment for people. Multiple projects, including aeroplane servicing project, initially planned at Mihan have left for other states thanks to government policies,” VBA chief alleged.
He claimed that Eastern Vidarbha districts are rich in mineral resources. However, excessive mining and export of these minerals through ports in Gujarat will soon leave East Vidarbha dry of its mineral wealth. Ambedkar demanded setting up of processing industries based on minerals excavated from these districts at local level. He also called upon citizens of Vidarbha settled in Mumbai not to vote for BJP in local municipal elections, to teach a lesson to the party.
Replying to a query on having an alliance in upcoming local body elections in the district, Ambedkar claimed that he is of the strong view that every party should fight local body elections on their own. “Our party has adhered to this policy for many years. Although there have been some losses, it has built a platform for our party. Now many other parties have seen the wisdom behind our stand of fighting individually in local elections, and adopted the same policy,” he said.