Ahmedabad, Sep 17 (IANS): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley said here Saturday the central government was trying to destroy the politics of honesty in Gujarat.

"There is politics of honesty in Gujarat," he said here. "On the other hand, there is an atmosphere of corruption at the centre."

He was speaking in Ahmedabad where Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi began a three-day fast over harmony and peace Saturday.

"On one hand there is an attempt to empower at the grass-root level," Jaitley said. "on the other hand, they are trying to disintegrate the federal structure."

He said the central government stood in contrast with the development-oriented government in Gujarat.

Describing the central government as anti-people, Jaitley said it was weakening the country's federal structure.

He also lauded the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance in Punjab and the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu. Both are supporting Modi's fast.

"We are proud that the state whose leaders are here are progressing rapidly," Jaitley said. On the other hand, there is a leaderless government in the centre. Compare it with Gujarat."

The BJP leader called the petrol price hike a decision against the common people.

"They talk about amity, sympathy and compassion but what are the decisions the centre takes?" he asked.

"Gujarat saw earthquake, cyclone, communalism -- the world criticised," he said, calling Gujarat a model state. "but the strong leadership fought these storms and the world started to come to Gujarat."

He added: "I know many comments will follow but strong political leadership has the capacity to carry on with a positive agenda despite criticism."