PM Modi slams opposition over Gujarat poll dates row
What's the story
Amid the controversy over the delay in announcement of Gujarat election dates, PM Narendra Modi defended the Election Commission while launching the Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) ferry service in the state.
Also in Vadodara, he hit out at the opposition, which earlier attacked the EC for not declaring the election schedule.
EC had only announced that vote-counting would be completed by 18 December.
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Details
Opposition has no right to point finger at EC: Modi
In Vadodara, PM Modi stated: "Some people have problem with me coming to Vadodara on Diwali. They can't take me on; hence they are putting pressure on Election Commission."
Congress and DMK parties earlier attacked EC.
P Chidambaram alleged the polling body authorized PM Modi to announce the Gujarat dates after the ruling BJP in the state has announced all "concessions and freebies".
Twitter Post
PM Modi takes jibe at opposition parties
Lekin main unko kehna chahta hun ki unko Election Commission par ungli uthane ka koi hakk nahi hai: PM Modi in Vadodara
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017
Ro-Ro Ferry Service
Ro-Ro ferry project inaugurated ahead of Gujarat polls
PM Modi launched his "dream project", the Ro-Ro ferry service. He said the project, connecting Gujarat's Ghogha to Dahej, is the first of its kind in the country and South-East Asia as well.
He also took the first trip with 100 visually-impaired children from Bhavnagar.
He criticized the previous UPA Government, which delayed the project and created hurdles "in the name of environment".
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PM Modi offering sops: Congress
PM Modi said, "This (Ro-Ro ferry service) is also a unique project as the state government has used the latest technology to make this ferry service possible." Congress alleged the Centre pressurized EC to delay poll-date announcement to allow Modi to offer "sops" to Gujarat.
UPA Government
Faced many challenges for the development of Gujarat: Modi
The Prime Minister said he had laid the foundation stone for Ro-Ro ferry project in 2012.
Modi added at the time they had to depend on UPA at the Centre for conducting project-related activities in the ocean.
He said the Centre banned development from Vapi to Mandvi in Kutch along Gujarat's coast, threatening closure of several industries, in the name of the environment.
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Erstwhile UPA government ignored shipping, port sectors
PM Modi stated: "In the past decades, shipping and port sectors were ignored. Had they (the Congress-led UPA government) understood the power of the ocean, the people in this region would not have been forced to leave their homes for work in other cities."