Development in Gujarat has stalled, says Shankersinh Vaghela

GANDHINAGAR: Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela today tore into the BJP government over its claims of development.

Speaking in the Assembly on the first day of discussion on the state budget, the senior Congress leader said the government would face the wrath of voters in the 2017 elections, and pooh-poohed the so-called Gujarat model.

"When we claim that Gujarat is a model state in development, I sincerely hope that promises of 'Acche Din' and 'Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas' come true as people are still waiting for it. Today, development in Gujarat has stalled completely," said Vaghela.

"Some sectors are developing, like the unemployment, rising state debt, illegal liquor trade, drop-outs in schools, cow slaughter, etc," he said sarcastically.

The Government was trying to finish off the state-owned power generation companies, he alleged.

"Installed capacity of state-owned power plants has remained the same in the last three years. Capacity utilisation of these plants has drastically decreased. It came down to just 44 per cent in 2015 from 59 per cent in 2001. This shows we are intentionally not utilising our capacity," said Vaghela.

"This is part of a conspiracy to ensure that private players get a chance to increase their capacity," he alleged.

He also called for a joint committee of MLAs to conduct inquiry into the fixing of rates at which the government buys electricity from private solar power plants. The rate is currently decided by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission.