Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Chief Minister today in his reply in State assembly clarified that claims of Rs. 100 crore expenditure on account of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Gujarat were incorrect and false. Rupani said, while the State government had allocated Rs. 8 crore, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) spent Rs. 4.50 crore sum on account of President Trump’s visit. The road works ahead of Trump’s visit were approved in advance and undertaken through budgetary provisions. It’s worth noting that large section of media and opposition party’s spokespersons and leaders had started propaganda that the government was wasting sum as much as Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 crore on account of Donald Trump visit to Gujarat. However when questioned none from media or opposition was in position to tell the source of their expenditure claims.

Rupani in his speech said: I am surprised that for the first time, the American President, for the first time in the history, directly arrived at Ahemdabad from Washington DC, the capital of America. It has happened for the first time. Another thing to notice is that, this was a stand-alone visit to India. It has never happened in the past. The U.S. Presidents would also visit china, Pakistan or Bangladesh and give a message that the United States would give importance to all and not just India. It has happened for the first time on this occasion that the U.S. President choose for a stand-alone visit to India. Third thing to notice is that, the US President doesn’t pay visit with their family but this time he came with family.

Rupani said, ‘as Mr. Trump arrived directly to Ahmedabad from Washington, the importance of Gujarat has grown multi-fold across the world. It has happened never before.’

Rupani also mentioned an admiring remark in American daily regarding Trump’s Gujarat visit and the way the event took place here.

Rupani said, ‘some people talk about Rs. 100 crore expenditure on account of Trump’s visit to Gujarat. I can’t understand, from where this figure came. The government approved Rs. 8 crore and AMC spent only Rs. 4.5 crore. Other expenses like roads around Motera were approved well in advance, and they (the roads) are useful for the people here. Mr. Trump arrived and left the city. This Rs. 100 crore figure is all gas. The question to ponder upon is why Mr. Trump came to Gujarat and not elsewhere. And one should ask Gujaratis living in America to actually realize that what was the importance of this visit.’

DeshGujarat