Vadodara mayor calls US a ‘country which runs factories producing terrorists’

PM Modi and US President Obama at the US-India business council meeting in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been speaking highly of his “friendly relations” with US President Barack Obama, who ends his three-day visit to India today. But in Vadodara – one of the two constituencies which elected Modi in the 2014 general elections – Mayor Bharat Shah, in his official Republic Day address on Monday, said ​”Pakistan and America are countries that have created factories ​producing terrorists” and Modi has now made “Obama sing the Sauno saath sauno vikas song like a parrot”.

In a major embarrassment facing the Vadodara BJP, Shah, who has been known to make controversial statements, said, “We have been reaping the fruits of independence even after 66 years (sic) since India became free. It holds great importance. When India was created, so was Pakistan. But we took up the path of development while America and Pakistan set up factories producing terrorists in their countries.” Shah, in his zeal to praise the success of the Modi government in establishing ties with the US added that Modi had made Obama “parrot” the development mantra, ‘Sauno Saath Sauno Vikas’ (Together with all, development for all).

Shah said, “Today, we are on the path of development and it is a proud moment that Narendra Modi has made Obama sing the Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas slogan like a parrot. They (US) have been speaking of it. It is a big moment for us that America that did not give us acceptance, is also singing the Sauno Saath Sauno Vikas and Made in India slogans. Narendra Modi’s development chronicles has taken up leaders of other states.”

Shah was addressing councillors and IAS officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, including the Municipal Commissioner, Opposition leaders and MLAs of the city.

When contacted, Shah refused to comment on the controversy his speech in Vadodara has created. BJP City President Bharat Dangar backed Shah and said, “I do not think he meant to say it the way it has been taken.”

During the Lok Sabha polls, Shah was Modi’s official expenditure agent for his nomination from Vadodara.