Bhavnagar: In a caustic attack, former chief minister Keshubhai Patel on Sunday compared BJP's 'dhan sangrah (fund collection)' campaign to the extortion by fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
“Modi government had launched a 'dhan sangrah' campaign but in reality it was nothing but extortion. Dawood used to ask for Rs 100 crore as ransom but these people (BJP) have been asking for Rs 550 crore. This is the situation in Gujarat. If you want to change, change the ruler of the state,'' Patel said addressing his public meeting in Limda village in Bhavnagar district as a part of his Parivartan Sandesh Yatra.
Seeking voters' support, Patel hit out at Modi for announcements to take Narmada water to Saurashtra. “I brought Narmada water to Saurashtra and the Kalpasar project was initiated during my tenure as chief minister. I request you to give a chance to this Bapa in the election,” he exhorted the voters.
The 83-year-old politician's yatra, launched from his stronghold Saurashtra, will cover all the assembly seats in five phases.
He also sought to put to rest speculations that Patel votes will be split if BJP also puts up a Patel candidate in the same assembly constituency.
“People are tired of BJP and Congress both, and they are coming to GPP. In fact, we are inviting people from BJP, except Narendra Modi, as well to join our change of call,'' he said.
He alleged that Modi, during the last one year, used 10,000 state transport buses for his personal propaganda and all government officials were busy with his programmes leaving common people to suffer. Interestingly, the former BJP veteran asked people to leave aside 'gnativaad' (casteism) and work for Gujarat. Gordhan Zadaphia, senior GPP leader, said that if voted to power, the party will provide sanitation facilities free of cost to each and every poor household.
“Modi government had launched a 'dhan sangrah' campaign but in reality it was nothing but extortion. Dawood used to ask for Rs 100 crore as ransom but these people (BJP) have been asking for Rs 550 crore. This is the situation in Gujarat. If you want to change, change the ruler of the state,'' Patel said addressing his public meeting in Limda village in Bhavnagar district as a part of his Parivartan Sandesh Yatra.
Seeking voters' support, Patel hit out at Modi for announcements to take Narmada water to Saurashtra. “I brought Narmada water to Saurashtra and the Kalpasar project was initiated during my tenure as chief minister. I request you to give a chance to this Bapa in the election,” he exhorted the voters.
The 83-year-old politician's yatra, launched from his stronghold Saurashtra, will cover all the assembly seats in five phases.
He also sought to put to rest speculations that Patel votes will be split if BJP also puts up a Patel candidate in the same assembly constituency.
“People are tired of BJP and Congress both, and they are coming to GPP. In fact, we are inviting people from BJP, except Narendra Modi, as well to join our change of call,'' he said.
He alleged that Modi, during the last one year, used 10,000 state transport buses for his personal propaganda and all government officials were busy with his programmes leaving common people to suffer. Interestingly, the former BJP veteran asked people to leave aside 'gnativaad' (casteism) and work for Gujarat. Gordhan Zadaphia, senior GPP leader, said that if voted to power, the party will provide sanitation facilities free of cost to each and every poor household.
