Amid criticism over losing projects to Gujarat, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the neighbouring state isn’t Pakistan, and it is natural for some projects to go to other states. Speaking at the India Global Forum, Fadnavis said we are in the era of “competitive federalism” and the number of states vying for investments has gone up to 10 now from just 2-3 earlier, a “welcome” development.

“A company going to Gujarat, Karnataka or Delhi. it’s not Pakistan. It’s our country,” Fadnavis said. He was quick to add that Maharashtra “really wants” everyone to come to the state, and has been working on both ease of doing business and cost of doing business. Notably, the Opposition has criticised the Maharashtra government for losing mega investment projects like the ones on semiconductors to neighbouring Gujarat.