Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi today targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the
Commonwealth Games preparations, saying even if he mops the
floor the sports facilities will not be ready in time.
Observing that the preparations were in a "mess",
Modi also taunted the CWG organisers telling them that any
government body in Ahmedabad even would have ensured that all
the stadia were ready before the commencement of the mega
sporting event on October 3.
"I don`t know what is happening in the Commonwealth
Games. Even if the PM (Manmohan Singh) starts wiping the
floor, the venues won`t be ready for the game," Modi said at a
function here.
"CWG people had four years to get the venues ready, but
they are still struggling. They should have given it to
Ahmedabad (Municipal Corporation), which would have built
those stadiums in time," Modi said.
The handing over of the games venues to the organisers
has missed four deadlines prompting the prime minister to take
charge to avoid further delays.
They were meant to be completed by August 31. Instead,
blaming the rain, Union minister Jaipal Reddy, who heads a
Group of Ministers supervising the Games, said some more days
will be required.
Singh had visited the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium--the
venue of opening and closing ceremonies-- on Sunday to inspect
the progress in preparations.
The alleged corruption and financial irregularties in
the run-up to the Games also drew flak from Modi, who said
even CBI cannot save the Congress and the Centre from the "CWG
debacle".
Modi also spoke on other issues to target the Centre
and the Congress.
Alleging misuse of CBI by Congress after arrest of his
close aide and ex-minister Amit Shah in the Soharabuddin
Sheikh fake encounter case, Modi said,"Delhi Sultanate thinks
that CBI can save them every time. But even CBI cannot save
them from CWG debacle,"
Modi also warned the union government to stop
threatening Gujarat in the name of CBI.
The BJP stalwart also said development of Gujarat for
him was like doing a service to the nation.
"I do not need to do something separately. To ensure
that no person in Gujarat falls sick and to ensure that people
of the state get proper employment is my way of service to the
nation," the CM said.
Modi also challenged the Union government calling it
as `Delhi Sultanate` and asked it to compete on development
front.
"Even development is hurting some people. I have
challenged this Delhi Sultanate, come and let us compete on
development front, but they are not ready," he said.
"You (Union government) have the entire country and
ours is a small state. It is my challenge that Gujarat would
be ahead of the Delhi sultanate despite this," Modi said.
PTI
