UPA ‘cheating’ youths by false job promises: Modi

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Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress-led UPA government of making false promises to youths of providing them with jobs.

"See the Congress manifesto, it says we will give jobs to people from each family. In 2009, they said one crore jobs will be given. Has it happened?," Modi asked a gathering, while addressing the Swami Vivekanand Youth Convention here.

"Why are they cheating youths like this? If someone cheats, we can't forgive him like that. It is not our nature to cheat," he said.

Modi was reacting to state Congress unit's announcement that they would provide jobs to 10 lakh youths in the state, if voted to power.

The elections in Gujarat are slated to be held later this year. "The government in Delhi is cheating the youths of Gujarat, while we are bringing industrial development in the state," the Chief Minister said.

"As per GoI survey estimates, 72 percent of jobs created in India are coming from Gujarat," Modi said, asserting his viewpoint.

"Please don't have expectations from Delhi," Modi advised the gathering. "Over 3.5 lakh people have got jobs in last one decade rule of Gujarat government. One lakh more will get jobs," he said.

If any youth wishes to start his own venture, the Gujarat government will back as guarantor for their banks loans, if they seek so, Modi announced.

"These are not small decisions. It's not my courage but the faith I have in you. My youngsters would not do wrong I know," Modi said stressing that his government had full faith in the state's youth force.

Modi also criticised the Centre for putting a cap of six cylinders per family, saying it "lacked vision on the issue".

If the Gujarat government was permitted to lay gas pipelines it would had resulted in saving five crore LPG cylinders, that would have considerably brought down subsidy burden on exchequer, Modi said.

He also accused the Centre of delaying expansion of state gas grid network by imposing a ban on laying of gas pipelines.

"Thinking Modi's clout will grow, the Centre imposed a ban two years ago on gas pipeline laying in Gujarat, saying only they (Centre) can do this," he alleged.

The decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court, he said. According to Modi, the move would have let people avail cheaper LPG and could have reduced subsidy burden on the country's exchequer.

Comparing the Centre and state's policy on LPG, Modi said, "They decided to give six gas cylinders per family as the subsidy burden falls heavy, but we laid 2,200 km pipeline network at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore and provided cheap gas to seven lakh households, a first of its kind initiative in India."

The Gujarat government targets to provide 20 lakh households with piped gas connections, Modi added.