In an aggressive response to the UPA led central government, which he sarcastically termed 'Delhi Sultanate’, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi threw an open challenge to the Congress-led government in Delhi and announced that he was ready to fight in 'maidan-e-jung'.
In what is being interpreted as his response to the recent controversy of the advertisement that appeared in newspapers in Bihar and led to a spat between Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Modi said that the centre was intentionally trying to malign Gujarat's reputation and disturb its public life.
Modi was speaking at the inaugural function of the railway over-bridge connecting Meghaninagar, Kubernagar and Naroda Road, built at a cost of Rs35 crore. Modi named the bridge after Kasturbhai Lalbhai.
An aggressive Modi at the outset made clear his intention of taking on the central government. "Here I want to publicly announce that I am ready to take them on in maidan-e-jung (battlefield). I am ready to support our people in Gujarat's battle," he said.
The Gujarat CM made continuous jibes at the central government and said that by taking the media's help it would not be able to disturb Gujarat's public life. "All these efforts are being put in because they cannot compete with Gujarat's development. If the government in Delhi cannot compete with us, then they should keep quiet. I will give a proper reply to the government in Delhi in the appropriate language when the right time comes. Try whatever method you want to try (in maligning Gujarat)," he said with aggression writ large on his face.
Ridiculing the central government's methods, Modi said that they have the habit of taking "bowls full" of help, "but they return only spoonful (of) things." He said the central government had fooled the voters by not keeping their promise of controlling the high inflation rate. "They said 'vote for us' and we will tackle increasing food prices within 100 days. Time has gone but our poor country has to pay triple the amount for gas, kerosene and petrol. They do not bother about the poor," he said.
At a time when elections in the seven municipal corporations in the state are inching close, Modi also did not spare Congress leaders in Gujarat. "Congress somehow finds out points to contradict us. But those people who dare reject Gujarat's voters do not matter to me. For me, my voters matter the most," he said.
