Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Thursday lashed out at the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for its "lack of leadership and poverty of ideas" and said policy paralysis was causing negative growth.
"Lack of leadership, poverty of ideas and policy paralysis in the central government is taking the country towards negative growth... I have expressed concern on this," Modi told reporters after addressing the National Development Council (NDC) meet here.
"The prime minister's remark reflected pessimism," he said, adding that "the central government looks at the Gujarat model of development for ideas".
However, Modi, whose hat-trick in assembly elections is being seen in political circles as a boost to his prime ministerial aspirations, refused to respond on his role in national politics.
According to Modi, the government had downgraded its earlier projection of nine percent economic growth in the 12th Five Year Plan period to 8.2 percent and was now saying even achieving eight percent would be hard.
"The centre can blame low GDP on global economic crisis, but the states can't do so," said Modi, adding: "The government should have a road map for economic growth and should take steps to take advantage of demographic dividend through skill development programmes."
"It is difficult to take things forward if one is downcast," he said, adding: "Three- fourth of the first year of the 12th plan has gone... how will you achieve the growth target?"
The Gujarat chief minister pressed for a panel for distribution of natural resources on the lines of the finance commission.
He also supported Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who walked out of the NDC meet here accusing the government of humiliating her.
The 57th National Development Council meeting is being held at Vigyan Bhavan here.