Modi speaking white lies on development: Kejriwal

Ahmedabad: Accusing Narendra Modi of speaking  "white lies" on development in Gujarat, AAP chief Arvind  Kejriwal today said he would meet the Gujarat Chief Minister  to discuss the development claims. The former Delhi Chief Minister said he has raised 16  questions on development claims on Gujarat and wants to  discuss all the issues with Modi if he has the time.          

Kejriwal, who is on a four-day visit to Gujarat to  'verify' the development claims on the home turf of Modi, also  raked up the gas pricing issue. "Modi should make his point clear on the issue of gas  pricing," he said, adding, "Gujarat government has demanded  that gas pricing should be USD 16.

Earlier, UPA government had given a go ahead to raise the price of gas from USD 4 to USD  8". He also alleged that Gujarat government is purchasing  solar power at Rs 15 per unit, while the price elsewhere is Rs  8 per unit.        

"You are speaking white lies on the claims of  development," the AAP leader alleged. 

He also raised questions on the issue of corrupt  ministers in the Modi government and alleged that the chief  minister has a bond with Mukesh Ambani. "Why you have included Babu Bokhiria as a minister who  has been convicted in a mining scam with three years sentence  and at present who is on bail now?" he asked.  "Whereas another minister Purshottam Solanki, who has  been convicted in Rs 450 crore fisheries scam, is also a  minister in your Cabinet," Kejriwal said. "Don't you find an honest Gujarati among the six crore  Gujaratis?" he asked.

"People say that you have such close relations with  Mukesh Ambani that you have made Ambani family's son-in-law  a minister," Kejriwal alleged. "You made Saurabh Patel a minister. By giving him  portfolios like gas, petroleum, energy and minerals, in a way  you allocated Gujarat's natural resources to Ambanis," he  alleged.  

"Unemployment is pathetic in the state. Recently, 13  lakh people applied for 1,500 posts of Talati. This clearly  shows that Gujarat has a high rate of unemployment," said  Kejriwal.   On the contractual job system in state-run units, the  former Delhi chief minister held Modi responsible for  exploitation of youths. "Educated youths have been given adhoc jobs on a meagre  salary of Rs 5,300 per month. Who will be able to run his  family in Rs 5,300 per month?" he asked.             

t is the government's responsibility to give good  education to poor. We have been in the villages to verify the  educational facilities in rural area, said Kejriwal.   "Government-run schools are in worst condition, health  care is in shambles, farmers have been given less compensation  for land acquired from them by government," he alleged.