BANGALORE: The Narendra Modi government at the Centre will not go on a witch-hunt against its political opponents including Robert Vadra, but the law will take its own course, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said here on Friday.
“I don’t want to make any political comment. We don’t want to launch a witch hunt but at the same time the law will take its own course,” Naidu said speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function to felicitate him and three other Union ministers from the state — Ananth Kumar, D V Sadananda Gowda and G M Siddeshwar.
Providing good governance will be the first priority of the Modi government, other things will be looked into later, he said.
He said BJP, which had often accused UPA government of meting out step-motherly treatment to states ruled by it, will not discriminate against states and will keep intact the true federal spirit of the Indian Constitution.
“As far as development is concerned, we do not discriminate on the basis of party ideologies of state governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked us to work together,” he said.
‘Housing for All by 2020’
Pitching for a country with ‘housing for all by 2020,’ Venkaiah Naidu, who is also Union Minister for Urban Development, on Friday said private parties, banks and even the public sector should be brought together to realise this.
After a meeting with the Urban Development Department officials, Naidu told reporters that housing should become part of social responsibility of all stakeholders.
Nearly 50 per cent of the total population, from the current 32 per cent, will be in cities by 2020 and the onus lies with employment providers to provide housing to take their development agenda forward, he said.
Stating that providing employment is a gigantic task, he said: “Employment is going to be a major challenge. No government can provide employment to all through government jobs. Hence, there is a need for public-private partnership. You need to involve the private and public sector and agencies like banks and LIC.”
Naidu said he will hold a meeting with all stakeholders (corporate and private sector) on Monday to address the issue. “The Prime Minister has told me that this is one of the major areas. He also said housing, drinking water, sanitation, transportation and livelihood should be the mantras of my ministry,” Naidu said.
On whether the Gujarat model will be implemented in other states, Naidu said the best practices of each state will be replicated in others. “Gujarat has made much headway as far as urban development is concerned,” he said.
On Bangalore Metro, he said under Phase-1 of the project, 42.3 km will be covered. The present progress is around 81 per cent and the project is likely to be completed by next March. He also said Phase-II of the Metro has been approved and 72.09 km will be completed in five years. He said funds for the Metro will not be a problem.
“It is a priority for us and the state government has asked for modest funds. I can assure you that Bangalore Metro will receive its due and special attention,” he added.