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October 13, 2008 14:45 IST
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Centre of making little effort to address the issue of regional economic disparities which he claimed was promoting 'divisive feeling'.
Speaking at the National Integration Council meet in New Delhi, Modi identified 'economic strife on account of growing disparities' as the root cause 'promoting divisive feeling and hindering the process of national integration.'
Quoting from a speech made by Singh during the NIC meet in 2005, Modi pointed out that the Prime Minister also held a similar opinion when he said that 'relative inter-regional disparities are also a problem and must be addressed'.
"However, very little effort has been made by the government of India to address the issues of regional economic disparities," he said adding, "during the last sixty years of operations of various finance commissions, the inter-state and the intra-state economic disparities have only increased."
During his speech, Modi highlighted the recently launched schemes for the 15 per cent tribal population in Gujarat, including the Ekalavya Model Residential School, styled after RSS run Ekal Vidyalaya in tribal areas of the country.
Modi also warned the government against any move to include sections of Muslim and Christians as Scheduled Castes, stating that the step 'undermines the constitutional spirit behind the provision.'
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