Ahmedabad, Oct 13 (PTI) Defence Minister and BJP leaderNirmala Sitharaman today hit out at the Congress over a socialmedia campaign mocking 'Gujarat model of development', sayingthe opposition should take 'vikas' seriously and must notundermine it.
Speaking at a programme organised by news channel Aaj Takhere, Sitharaman, co-incharge of BJP's election campaign inGujarat, said she was "disappointed" by the opposition'sportrayal of the Gujarat model.
She was referring to the social media campaign mockingthe Gujarat model of development, featuring the tag-line"Vikas Gando Thayo Chhe", which means development has gonecrazy.
"The Gujarat model of development is a tried and testedmodel, replicated in several other states. And now, Congress,knowingly or unknowingly, is undermining 'vikas'. I amdisappointed over the way in which Congress is running thiscampaign against 'vikas'," she said.
"To counter the BJP, even Congress leaders used to saythat significant development took place in their era. Andsuddenly, Congress leadership is now saying that 'Vikas Pagalho Gaya Hai' (development has gone crazy)! Vikas is a seriousissue and it must be taken seriously," she asserted.
During a debate with Congress spokesperson RandeepSurjewala on television, the defence minister accused theopposition party of making fun of the development modelaccepted all over the country.
"Today, there is an undoubted acceptability for Vikas, aspeople now realise that fruits of development must reach everycitizen. Even then, the Congress is making fun of it. I amsorry, but I am disappointed by such an approach," she said.
But Surjewala countered her by claiming that the 'VikasGando Thayo Chhe' campaign was being run by the people ofGujarat, and not by the Congress, as "people are angry withthe ruling BJP". PTI PJT PD KRKSRY.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.