Congress flays Modi over Central tax, assistance issue

VADODARA: Congress today criticised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his suggestion on the central tax collected from the state and assistance received from the Union government. Modi has been talking like a separatist leader on the issue of Centre funding to the state and tax collection, AICC Secretary in-charge of the party affairs in Gujarat, P Sudhakar Reddy, told reporters here. This indicated that the BJP leader does not have faith in the Constitution, he said.

Speaking at a function here on June 1, Modi had suggested the Centre to sign a pact with Gujarat for not collecting tax from the state for one year and in return, the state will not seek assistance from the Union government during that period. Reddy, on a tour for strengthening the party's base in Gujarat, demanded a white paper on the central aid to projects across the BJP-ruled state. This would "expose" the hollow claim of Modi on less aid to Gujarat, he said.

The Congress leader alleged Modi was not following the guidelines set by the Supreme Court and the Centre over allocation of land for setting up SEZs.

He wanted to know why land was allotted to a corporate group for an SEZ in Zarpara village in Kutch district despite opposition from the local people. "Why Modi keeps on pleasing the corporate houses?" asked Reddy.

Reddy slammed the Modi Government for providing sales tax relief to industrial houses, and rubbished claims on drop in number of BPL families in the state.