Narendra Modi meets PM, seeks parity in gas pricing

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and expressed his unhappiness over the Centre's refusal to provide gas to the state at the same price at which it is given to Mumbai and Delhi.

"It was a very good meeting and we had a long discussion during which several different issues came up. The Prime Minister gave his good wishes for the development of Gujarat and the success of the new government. I gave an assurance that Gujarat will give full support to all measures taken for the welfare of the people," Modi said.

He was talking to reporters after an over hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence. This was Modi's first meeting with Singh after his victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections in December last

In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, Modi demanded that Gujarat be provided gas at the same rate as places like Delhi and Mumbai.

"A legal battle is on between us and the Government of India. Gujarat is not given gas at the price at which Delhi and Mumbai get it. We had gone to court and won the case. Despite this the order was not implemented for six months and we filed a contempt petition," Modi said.

"Instead of accepting this order, the Government of India went to the Supreme Court to delay the process. I have expressed my unhappiness to the Prime Minister over this," he said.

Modi, however, dodged questions from media on his being in the race as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

Modi also flagged the issue of building a sluice gate on the Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada river. He requested the Prime Minister that clearance should be given to the long-pending project as early as possible.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, who had called on President Pranab Mukherjee last month, demanded that the Prime Minister should look into the demand for completion of the canal network on Narmada river to provide water to farmers.

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