Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday criticised Congress for launching state-wide agitation against the new jantri rates which he argued were targeted at curbing black money.

Jantri rates act as benchmark for deciding stamp duty rates for registering property deals.

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Under the system, the government declares real estate prices in a particular area and the buyerssellers have to pay stamp duty accordingly even if a property deal takes place at a rate lower than the jantri rate.

Modi was speaking at a function to launch Apno Taluko, Vibrant Taluko at Dabhoi town near Vadodara on Thursday which was simultaneously launched in 51 talukas of the state while all the 225 talukas in the state will be brought under this scheme soon.

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It was for the first time, Modi used a public meeting to criticise Congress which is opposing new jantri rates and termed its stand as 'pro-black money' and expressed surprise as how come a political party could agitate against measures taken against black money.

The ATVT scheme launched by Modi on Thursday is a pro-active approach of the state government to address public grievances at taluka level.