New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gujarat model is a flop and only means publicity and gleaming headlines, said Rajeev Satav, Congress' in-charge for Gujarat.
"Nobody understood that the Gujarat model means only publicity, good headlines and PR management. In the last six years, what the PM has done is replicate the Gujarat model in the country," he said while addressing a press conference with Gujarat PCC president Amit Chavda and CLP leader Paresh Dhanani.
Satav, the Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, said that when Narendra Modi was the prime ministerial candidate in 2014, he put forward the Gujarat model to develop India. But the BJP government in Gujarat has not even improved health infrastructure but added "poached MLA's of Congress", he alleged. For the last 25 years in the state, of which Narendra Modi was the chief minister for 15 years, no new hospitals were opened, he added.
Amit Chavda added that 14 districts of Gujarat still do not have CT Scan machines in district hospitals, and 14 districts are not conducting RTPCR tests. Dhanani alleged that the Gujarat government is hiding the truth and actual figures of deaths. They told reporters that the situation is out of control in Gujarat, and people there have to look after themselves now due to the BJP government's failed policies.
Satav urged the Centre to hold all projects, including central vista, bullet train and aircraft purchase, to provide free vaccine for all. He suggested taking the MP Development Fund to fight the coronavirus. However, he also opined that the Centre is arrogant enough not to listen to the opposition.
Chavda further slammed Modi, accusing him that the first wave of Covid in India was due to the "Namaste Trump" event he organised, and the second wave was due to the cricket match "Namaste Stump" scheduled by Jay Shah.
Chavda said that PM had taken credit for his Gujarat Model, but he is not in place when his people are suffering, while Satav asked Modi to take care of his own state at least and spend some days with his people there.
Chavda also alleged that instead of hospitals, small BJP leaders stock antiviral drug Remdesivir, while Dhanani added that Congress had demanded legal action against such people.
While answering a question, Satav said that the Congress-ruled states would work their best to provide free vaccines for all their people as similar to how the Chhattisgarh government did.