Tumkur: Calling for greater synergy between the Centre and states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked Chief Ministers across the political spectrum not to allow political differences to come in the way of nation building. This evoked a swift response from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who requested the Prime Minister to announce a special package for Karnataka as was announced for the newly formed states of Seemandhra and Telangana.
“Irrespective of the political parties they belong to, the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers will have to work together. There can be different political parties, but the country is one. We have to move forward shoulder-to-shoulder,” Mr Modi said at the launch of the first of its kind food park here.
“Earlier, the states and the Centre either competed with or hated each other due to political reasons. Some states also felt 'dushmani' (animosity towards the Centre). The country can't run like this.
The states and the Centre will have to work as a team to take the country forward," Mr Modi added. His remarks came against the backdrop of two Congress Chief Ministers — Prithviraj Chavan of Maharashtra and Haryana's Bhupinder Singh Hooda — deciding to boycott his official functions after being booed by BJP workers in the Prime Minister's presence.
Mr Siddaramaiah said Karnataka needed a special package to improve on industrial development and commercial activity so that it can effectively compete with other states. “Without a special package for the development of Karnataka, there could be unhealthy competition with other states”, the Chief Minister said.
