Even if PM mops the floor, CWG venues won't be ready: Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the preparations for the Commonwealth Games, saying even if he mops the floor, the sports facilities will not be ready in time.

Observing that the preparations were in a 'mess', Modi also taunted the CWG organisers, telling them that any government body in Ahmedabad would have ensured that all the stadia were ready before the commencement of the mega sporting event on October 3.

"I don't know what is happening in the Commonwealth Games. Even if the PM (Manmohan Singh) starts wiping the floor, the venues won't be ready for the game," Modi said at a function in Ahmedabad.

"The CWG people had four years to get the venues ready, but they are still struggling. They should have given it to Ahmedabad (Municipal Corporation), which would have built those stadiums in time," Modi said.

The handing over of the Games venues to the organisers has missed four deadlines, prompting the prime minister to take charge to avoid further delays. They were meant to be completed by August 31. Instead, blaming the rain, Union minister Jaipal Reddy, who heads a Group of Ministers supervising the Games, said some more days will be required. Dr Singh had visited the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium -- the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies -- on Sunday to inspect the progress in preparations.

The alleged corruption and financial irregularities in the run-up to the Games also drew flak from Modi, who said even the CBI cannot save the Congress and the Centre from the 'CWG debacle'.

Modi also spoke on other issues to target the Centre and the Congress. Alleging misuse of the CBI by the Congress after the arrest of his close aide and ex-minister Amit Shah in the Soharabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, Modi said, "Delhi sultanate thinks that the CBI can save them every time. But even the CBI cannot save them from the CWG debacle,"

Modi also warned the Union government to stop threatening Gujarat in the name of CBI.

The BJP stalwart also said development of Gujarat for him was like doing a service to the nation. "I do not need to do something separately. To ensure that no person in Gujarat falls sick and to ensure that people of the state get proper employment is my way of service to the nation," the CM said.

Modi also challenged the Union government, calling it as Delhi sultanate, and asked it to compete on the development front.

"Even development is hurting some people. I have challenged this Delhi sultanate, come and let us compete on development front, but they are not ready," he said.

"You (Union government) have the entire country and ours is a small state. It is my challenge that Gujarat would be ahead of the Delhi sultanate despite this," Modi said.