Modi challenges Centre, woos national audience

MODITVA'S NEW COLOUR: Chief Minister Narendra Modi says Gujarat shouldn't be taxed by the Centre.

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Keywords: Gujarat, Tax

New Delhi: Chief Minister Narendra Modi has challenged the Central Government to not give any money to Gujarat for a year and in return not collect any tax from the state either.

"I tell the Central government, Gujarat gives you Rs 40,000 crore in taxes but how much do you give back to us? Don’t give us money—let us see how this arrangement works in one year," Modi said in Vadodara on Sunday.

The statement shows that Modi, who wants to break free from his image trap, is casting himself in the same ‘iron man’ mould, which his mentor and BJP leader LK Advani used to occupy.

However, the Congress isn’t impressed and called Modi’s statement “treason."

So far Modi has been described as the Hindu Hriday Samrat and the protector of the Gujarati asmita but now he is busy giving sermons to the Central Government and the topics range from controlling terror to energy conservation.

Though, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said Modi’s statement is a complaint against injustice. "He was just expressing his anxiety on the Centre’s step motherly treatment against BJP-ruled states," Naidu said.

Modi won Gujarat elections in the face of stiff resistance from rebels within the party. He attributed his success to his ability to strike an emotional bond with the voters. However, the jury is still out on whether Modi magic can be repeated outside Gujarat as well.