CM Bhupendra Patel said the state government did not impose any extra one rupee tax on citizens despite Covid. He said 'The Gujarat Model' has a gravity and a reputation of its own nationwide and his government will preserve that uniqueness.
Ahmedabad/New Delhi: The 'Gujarat Model' of development and administration has a gravity and a standing of its own and it cannot follow the road map of freebies, Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Rajnikantbhai Patel told 'Organiser' in an interview at Ahmedabad.
"Free baat na hae toh, hum bhi baat sakten haen (If it is only an issue of giving out freebies, we can also give. But what about financial prudence and keeping things in balance," he said.
"I think on this, we need cooperation from media also. If it is an issue of distributing things free, mein bhi baat sakta hoon (I can
also do it). But what about running the government exchequer, maintaining economic balance, proper budget and financial prudence?,"
he said.
Patel further said, "In Gujarat, despite Covid, we have not imposed any extra one rupee tax on citizens. on Fiscal deficit, our budget showed it at 1.6. But what is happening in some other states including our neighbour in Rajasthan? They distributed freebies, the deficit has gone up to may be 4.5 and above".
"The Gujarat Model has a gravity and a reputation of its own nationwide. We will preserve that uniqueness," he asserted.
To a question, he said, "Of course, we are in power in Gujarat for a long time. You can't say this leader or party came and it will go out tomorrow. So are our developmental works and schemes. We are trying to ensure that the benefits of all the schemes reach the last man at the end of the tunnel. But still, I will say of the new initiatives, our focus is on Green Energy. We have started working on Zero carbon concept. It is going well."
The Chief Minister said, "We have only recently done an agreement with Japan for electric vehicles and batteries for projects worth Rs
10,445 crores. We have also entered into a Rs 5.95 lakh crores MoU with Reliance on Green Energy. These projects will yield benefits in more
ways than one. The fuel use will reduce come down effectively."
Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) last week announced that it will invest Rs 10,440 crore (approx 150 billion yen) in local
manufacturing of electric vehicles (BEV) and BEV batteries in Gujarat.
Answering a question, the Chief Minister said, though it is true today, he is now the Gujarat Chief Minister – a position held by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi once, but the fact of the matter is "no one can work and perform like our Narendrabhai."
"Ek baat aap samajh lijiye, Narendra bhai ek hi hoten haen. Narendra bhai jaise kaam karna toh kisike bas mein nahi hae (You must
understand one thing very clearly, Narendra Modi can be only one. We have to work according to his guidance and path shown by him. No one can show results or perform like Narendra bhai," the Chief Minister said.
The low profile Bhupendrabhai's selection as Gujarat Chief Minister just a few months back by the BJP top leadership has surprised the BJP party's admirers and rivals alike.
In the corridors of power in Gandhinagar, insiders still talk about the manner Bhupendra Patel was selected to head the new government in the politically crucially western state. The BJP is in power for three decades and elections are due in Gujarat by December this year.
Sharing his party's road map for elections, the Chief Minister asserted that he is taking the electoral battle in a positive sense. "Hum jeetne ke liye ladenge (Our contest is to win)….there is no room for negativity. Nowhere, I am saying, we want to defeat A or B,"
Mr Patel said.
