Gom Rubbishes Modi’s Bias Charge, ‘vibrant Gujarat’ Claim

The visiting ‘Group of Ministers (GoM) on Media’ on Jun 13 refuted Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s oft-repeated allegation that the Centre was discriminating against his government on the matter of allocation of funds. The GoM comprised Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni and Law Minister Salman Khurshid. Replying to questions, Chidambaram said there was no question of any discrimination against the Gujarat government and figures themselves rejected Modi’s contentions. He said the central funding for Gujarat had increased from Rs 21,700 crore in 2005-2006 to Rs 51,000 crore in 2012-13. He, however, said the larger contribution for the state’s development came from its own resources. The Home Minister said Modi was not the only CM of a non-Congress ruled state making such allegations. He pointed out that during the NDA rule, non-NDA governments in the states had made similar complaints. “The UPA government is for development of the entire India,” he said.