Narendra Modi should debate real issues; tall claims won't work: Kapil Sibal

NEW DELHI: Slamming Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his "tall claims" of development, Law Minister Kapil Sibal today said a quality debate on real issues and not personalities was required in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Sibal told reporters here that since India followed a Parliamentary form of government, it was the political parties and not personalities who have to put forth their positions on various issues ahead of elections.

He often referred to Modi as "nirantar virodhi" (constantly opposing) and said there was a need to talk about real issues. Without naming Modi, he said he was using the term "nirantar virodhi" for a person.

"You have to place an alternative vision before the country...what is his stand on education when his party has opposed bills on foreign universities and accreditation of educational institutions.

"How does he propose to generate capital for education... on judiciary we wanted a system where government and judiciary have an equal say," Sibal, a former HRD Minister, said.

He claimed the BJP created "roadblocks" in the bill to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission. "We see permanent 'virodh'," he said.

Sibal also questioned the 'Gujarat Model' propagated by Modi saying, "Though we often hear about it, we are not yet aware about its bricks and elements...What is your model for development?"