'Corporate culture' being promoted by Modi: Congress

New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Sunday hit back at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that "corporate culture" was being promoted by him and the BJP even as poor diamond workers were suffering in the state.

Reacting to the statement of Modi in which he had accused the Congress of "trying to puncture the Nano car project", party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told PTI, "Modi and BJP are promoting corporate culture while the poor diamond workers are suffering in the state".

The war of words between the two parties began after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi charged the Gujarat government with doling out incentives worth crores of rupees to Tata's Nano project while neglecting diamond workers.

"What Rahul ji has said is right ... We are not against the Nano car project but at the same time, the Gujarat government is duty bound to protect the interests of the suffering diamond workers," Ahmed said.

Another party spokesman Manish Tewari alleged that Modi's neglect of diamond workers reflected his "utter insensitivity" to their plight and claimed the workers were being forced to commit suicide because of this.

"The CM of Gujarat can dole out crores of concession to the big fish of corporate India but he has no time or money for the hapless workers of the diamond industry whose blood and sweat has contributed to the making of brand Gujarat internationally," Tewari told PTI. ]Referring to the statement of Modi on BJP members being fishes in the ocean, Tewari remarked, "The CM of Gujarat is absolutely correct when he calls himself a fish in the ocean ... But he is the species of a fish called Pirana."