Prithviraj Chavan dubs Narendra Modi's Gujarat development model as marketing technique

MUMBAI: Slamming the " Gujarat development model" theory of BJP's poll campaign committee chief Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday said it was a marketing technique adopted by his NRI friends.


"Crores of rupees are being spent on marketing and elements who are keen to pursue the corporate agenda through Modi are supporting him," Chavan said while inaugurating the two-day national council meeting of the All India Mahila Congress Committee here.

"Maharashtra is the premier state in the country in terms of state income and second in terms of per capita income after Haryana," he said, adding that it is the most industrialised state with largest investment from India and abroad.

"Our neighbouring state through a strong PR network claims to be the most developed state. We have no problem. It's good to be competitive," he said, adding that Maharashtra was doing very well in economic as well as social parameters.

Chavan charged that his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi's "theatrics", like the claim of his camp of rescuing 15,000 Gujaratis from rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, were now exposed.

Social empowerment and financial inclusion of the last person in the society was the USP of the party, he said.

"Public mood was against divisive and hate politics. BJP has again brought in issues which it had given up, like Ram temple, uniform civil code and repeal of Article 370, since they have no chance of electoral success," he alleged.

The hint of public sentiment in favour of Congress was evident from the good performance of the party in Sangli municipal corporation election results and Pune local bodies by-election, he said.