Liquor is cheaper than water in Modi's Gujarat: Congress

Congress on Monday alleged that liquor has become cheaper than water in "parched" Gujarat, as Chief Minister Narendra Modi is busy “chasing his dream" to become prime minister and is ignoring the plight of the common people.

"Water is not easily available in drought-hit areas in the state, but liquor is not only readily available but available at a rate cheaper than water," state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia told reporters.

"People of as many as 160 villages from Saurashtra, north Gujarat and central Gujarat are facing shortage of drinking water. However, the chief minister is dreaming about becoming the prime minister and not doing anything to bail out the affected people," he said.

Tearing into Modi's claims of development, Modhwadia said they are nothing but a ploy to mislead people and the Legislative Assembly.

Modhwadia accused Modi of “sitting” on central fund worth Rs 1,500 crore meant for drought-hit areas and misusing it for "self-propaganda", Modhwadia said.

"I urge the state government to use the fund to solve the drinking water and fodder problems, not for self-propaganda," he said.

Continuing his tirade against Modi, who is often projected as BJP's prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 elections, Modhwadia said the BJP government has failed to provide relief to scarcity-hit areas, unlike erstwhile Congress governments.

The senior leader also alleged that the law and order situation in Gujarat was deteriorating and the crime graph was going up.

Modhwadia downplayed the high-profile crossover of party Member of Legislative Assembly Vitthal Radadiya to the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying  such "minor" developments seldom affect the party.