'Gujarat model of democracy dangerous'

As Narendra Modi undertakes a vigorous election campaign, the Congress on Wednesday wondered whether the BJP leader would implement the Gujarat model of democracy at the Centre if he becomes the prime minister.

The Congress is also pitching itself as the only party that can stop the “divisive ideology” of the BJP and appealed to the electorate to ensure that their vote does not go waste.

“Ever since Narendra Modi has become the chief minister, the Gujarat Assembly has not met for more than 23 days in a year. He has not participated in any debate in the state Assembly,” AICC senior spokesman and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said here. Modi has never held a press conference either in Ahmedabad or in New Delhi, he said adding the electronic media has been barred from covering the Assembly proceedings.

“Now, does he want to replicate this Gujarat model on the national scale? It would be a danger to the Indian Republic if he (Modi) gets this ideology at the Centre,” Sharma said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi have been describing the 2014 Lok Sabha election as a battle of ideologies. They have been contending that only the Congress has the competence to provide inclusive governance that takes all sections of the society together.