People of Gujarat drove growth story: Shriprakash Jaiswal

KANPUR: The impressive economic growth reported by Gujarat in recent years owed more to the hard work of the people than to the leadership at the helm in the state, Coal Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal said today.

Gujarat would have seen at least 25 per cent more growth had the party in power in the state managed to take the minority community, which was allegedly living in "fear," along with it, he told PTI.

Without referring to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by name, the Union Minister said what was being celebrated widely as the 'Gujarat Model' was nothing but the result of sincere work of the people.

The rest of the states in the country would have to emulate the hardworking Gujarati people with their single-minded focus on business to replicate the astounding success which the state has experienced, he said.

The Congress MP from Kanpur also sought to dismiss Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's words of praise for BJP leader L K Advani saying that it was entirely a personal matter for him to decide whom to admire or criticise.

As to the speculation of a third front for the upcoming general elections, Jaiswal said such alliances were mooted at the time of every election although nothing has ever come of these.