Thursday, September 7 2006 11:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vadodara: Former Health and Education Minister of Gujarat Nalin Bhatt, who was suspended for anti-party activities, last month, yesterday (Sept 6, 2006) resigned from the primary membership of BJP and charged Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of functioning in a 'dictatorial manner.'

Modi had misguided Gujaratis taking part in the World Gujarati Conference held in New Jersey, USA from September 1-3 about the floods in Surat, Bhatt told mediapersons after tendering his resignation.

"Through video conferencing Modi had addressed the gathering in the World Gujarati Conference in which he (Modi) tried to wrongly compare Surat with a disaster that occurred in the past," Bhatt said.

According to Bhatt, Modi told the gathering that Machhu dam disaster in Morbi town in Saurashtra in late seventies, had claimed more than 3,000 lives while floods in Tapti river due to release of water fom Ukai dam, had claimed 125 lives.

Bhatt said the comparison between these disasters, is irrelevant because Machhu dam disaster was natural while Tapti floods disaster was man-made due to negligence of authorities.

"Bhatt also questioned the functioning of Modi who has been behaving like 'tanashah' (dictator)," Bhatt said.

Bhatt wanted to know from Modi why he has not been appointing chairman of various Gujarat run corporations and undertakings for last four years.

"Not only that, there are seven to eight thousand vacancies in various state run boards, which are not being filled up by Modi," Bhatt said.

"Why 18 lakh primary members and 52 thousand active workers of BJP are being ignored and some of them being not appointed on these boards and corporations," Bhatt asked.

"Does Modi doubt the honesty and intergrity of the party workers?," he asked.

"The suspended leader also accused Modi of becoming authoritarian and concentrating all power around himself. This will not be tolerated," Bhatt said.

"Why Modi Government was not disbursing cash doles among the flood victims even after receeding of flood waters," Bhatt asked.

Bhatt also criticised the functioning style of BJP in-charge of Gujarat Om Mathur.

Bhatt said he would not join any other political party nor seek support from expelled BJP leaders Uma Bharti and others.