AHMEDABAD, May 24: Targeting the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said UPA’s glass is filled with corruption.
“In the last nine years (five years of UPA-I and four of UPA-II), the (UPA’s) glass has been full with corruption. There is no space for trust or belief. Unfortunately, even the common man has to take something from the glass filled with corruption,” he said after the launch of Gujarat edition of Business Line here.
He said the country is going through a total policy paralysis because of the UPA’s poor governance.
“We have to accept that the nation is going through deep policy paralysis,” Modi said.
He also lashed out at the Union government for its “misuse” of government institutions for settling scores.
“Unfortunately, I could not hear what you (Infosys Executive co-chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan) said…Whether you praised Gujarat or not…But I will get to know in two days. Last week, when Infosys praised Gujarat, it got an Income-Tax notice of Rs 500 crore,” Modi said.
Gopalakrishnan, who is also Confederation of Indian Industries president, had heaped praise on Modi, describing him as “a global leader”.
“Modi is a global leader who many wish to emulate. It is a privilege to share the dais with Modi, under whom the state has progressed in all aspects,” he had said earlier in the function.
Modi said social media has given common man more voice than before.
“Technology has impacted the print, electronic and social media immensely,” Modi said.
“To counter social media, print media organizations had to start online newspapers or online editions of newspapers,” he said, adding that this should be seen as social media’s victory.
He said people are able to know about any incident in 24 seconds now, while earlier it took 24 hours.
Modi also indirectly criticised censorship on social media, saying governments will have to accept technology in the way they administrate.
If governance and technology do not accept each other, there would be a big gap, he said.
Referring to the censorship during the Emergency, Modi said it was a blot on India’s democracy in which newspapers were locked out.
“Just like the Emergency period, people in power are today unwilling to face criticism…There is difference between criticism and allegations. Criticism is important to strengthen democracy, it is always welcome,” he said.
Modi said he had not blocked a single page on Internet whether it criticised him or praised his government’s achievements.
“But I know of 12-15 leaders who have blocked Facebook pages and Twitter accounts because they cannot accept criticism,” he said.
Business Line Editor Sampath Kumar, Kasturi and Sons Limited Chief Executive Officer Arun Anant were among the dignitaries present on the occasion. (PTI)
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