Mumbai: Countering the opposition Shiv Sena-BJP`s poll promise of making Maharashtra toll-free, ruling alliance partner NCP on Thursday said that BJP should first scrap the system in the neighbouring Gujarat.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that the model code of conduct for elections was yet to come into force, and "by that time, Gujarat (government), which is headed by BJP`S PM candidate Narendra Modi, should scrap the toll levy. We will study the impact and will have no hesitation to follow the model in Maharashtra."
Recently there were violent agitations against the road toll in many parts of the state and a demand that the system be scrapped.
NCP was of the opinion that specific complaints about toll plazas should be dealt with effectively, Malik said.
When asked about senior party leader and union minister Praful Patel`s remark that the judicial pronouncements on Narendra Modi`s alleged involvement in the post-Godhra riots should be accepted and should not be questioned further, Malik said the statement was misconstrued as the party being soft on Modi.
"The perception about Modi`s alleged involvement is not a creation of political parties but a result of (the then Prime Minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s advise to Modi to follow `Rajdharma`," Malik said.
