A day after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister never met him on the issue of Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the former Prime Minister telling a lie to the people of Gujarat.
Talking to mediaperson, Rupani said that it was very sad that a person of such high stature resorted to lie as Modi had not only written letter to him but also met him in Ahmedabad on the issue. According to him, the issue of Narmada waters had been a sentimental issue with people of Gujarat as it was considered to be ‘life line of Gujarat’.
Showing the copies of correspondence between former Gujarat CM Narendra Modi with the former PM Manmohan Singh Rupani said that Modi had written letter on January 17, May 17 and June 21, 2011 as well as on August 3, 2013 and September 7, 2013. As the Gujarat CM, PM Modi raised the issue during Ahmedabad visit of Singh on March 26, 2011 and again had discussed on the issue for 45 minute meeting on February 2, 2013, when Modi met former PM on important issues related to the State, including raising the height of the dam, claimed CM Rupani. The previous Congress Governments at the Centre always were anti-Gujarat and never approved the project, including in the name of environment, he claimed adding that even during his stint as Rajya Sabha member from 2006-12, he had met Manmohan Singh twice in a delegation from the State headed by veteran BJP leader lK Advani.
Demanding clarification from the opposition Congress party for spreading lies Rupani claimed that such anti-Gujarat attitude of Congress would be answered by the people in the ensuing assembly elections.