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One more Congress leader Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit praises Narendra Modi

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:44:01 +0000

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday inadvertently joined the club of people who, in the recent past, have praised Gujarat CM Narendra Modi for ‘good governance’.

Also, like all the other non-BJP public figures in this club, she immediately issued a clarification on her initial comments, saying they were being highlighted ‘out of context’ by the media. Dikshit was in Agra when she allegedly praised Modi’s ‘good governance’ in Gujarat.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O54hSwSDCHw

She allegedly told journalists how there was good governance and stability in Assam under Tarun Gogoi, Gujarat under Narendra Modi, and Delhi.

The statement is sure to embarrass the Congress, which recently put up a ‘satirical’ advertisement in Gujarat praising Modi. The move backfired. ‘I am not talking about the party. There are no two opinions about the fact that development is taking place inGujarat and (because of that) the government gets re-elected.

‘Why (else) do governments get re-elected? Why do they come to power again and again?

‘It’s because they ensure development,’ she said.

Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta said: ‘What Dikshit said is actually a fact. Gujarat is a vibrant, progressive state under Narendra Modi. ’After the Congress’ recent advertisement that praised Modi, the Delhi CM has hailed it (his governance) once again.’

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Narendra Modi thanks Amitabh Bachhan for placing Gujarat on world tourism map

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:51:04 +0000

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today expressed his “deep gratitude” to superstar Amitabh Bachchan for helping increase tourist inflow to the state as the brand ambassador of the tourism department.

Modi met the Bollywood megastar in the city, where he is shooting for the second phase of ‘Khushbu Gujarat Ki‘, an advertisements campaign to promote tourism in the state.

“I express my deep gratitude for your contribution to bringing the state on the world tourism map without any expectations from us,” Modi told Bachchan.

“Due to your efforts, tourism sector in Gujarat is developing at a very rapid rate,” he said.

In the first phase of the ad campaign, Bachachan had shot at various places, including the white Rann of Kutch, Gir forest, which is known as the last abode of Asiatic lions and at Mahatma Gandhi Ashram here.

In the second phase, he is shooting in Ahmedabad, Patan and Jamnagar.

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Gujarat State celebrates 63rd R-day at Bhavnagar

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:17:34 +0000

The celebration of 63rd Republic Day in the state was marked by the unfurling of tricolour, the march past and various cultural programmes.

In the state-level flag hoisting programme at Bhavnagar, the Governor Dr. Shrimati Kamlaji unfurled the national flag at 9 a.m. in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The march past had 22 platoons including SRP jawans, police force, women police, traffic police, coastal guards and NCC jawans. In all, more than 650 jawans took part in the march past and gave salute to the tricolour.

Daredevils Motor cycle stunt show and the march past of Chetak commandos in black uniform attracted every one’s attention. About 2500 students of Bhavnagar’s government schools performed Surya Namaskar and other yogasanas. The youths of police families presented folksongs and ras-garba with the fusion of western music. The dog-show and the horse-show also got huge applause from the people.

The procession of tableaux of different departments of state government also became centre of attraction for the people.

While the Chetak commando force won the first prize in march past, the police band got the second and the platoon of Raksha Shakti University got the third prize. For the presentation of tableaux, Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna of Tribal development department won the first prize while the Swami Vivekananda tableaux of Youth and cultural activities department won second and the skill development centre tableaux of cottage industries department won third prize.

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Ro-Ro ferry service would help vehicular traffic: Modi

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:08:01 +0000

Development of Ro-Ro ferry service terminals at Ghogha in Bhavnagar and at Dahej in Bharuch, will help in drastically changing the passenger and vehicular traffic in the region, chief minister Narendra Modi said.

Modi, who is in the city to lay the foundation stone for constructing the Ro-Ro terminal at Ghogha, 20 km from Bhavnagar, tomorrow, said.

“The government has taken up the task of developing Ro-Ro ferry services between Dahej and Ghogha, at a cost of Rs 296 crore, on a priority basis. The purpose of the project is to facilitate the establishment of a vehicular and passenger ferry service across the Gulf of Khambhat,” Modi said.

Roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships are vessels, designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, trailers, etc, that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.

Goods and passengers are transported from one shore to another by ferry vessels in many parts of the world.

“The state government has taken up various initiatives, which will ensure an integrated development of ports and port-related industry,” Modi said about the development of ports in Gujarat.

Due to its peculiar geographical configuration, the Gulf of Khambhat has advantage for the operation of Ro-Ro ferry service, a top official of Gujarat Meritime Board said.

Looking to the advantage of ferry network to speed up travel within the Saurashtra and south Gujarat with reduction in distance of same and at the same time relieve congestion on the state highway around the gulf, in line with the Port policy announced by the state government, he said.

The official added that the circuitous road distance around the gulf between the proposed terminals of Ghogha and Dahej is 360 km, while the distance between the two terminals is approximately 31 kms.

“Gujarat government, through its visionary policies and proactive measures, has ensured that these natural advantages are not wasted. Government has led Gujarat to become number one maritime state in the country,” Modi said.

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Bhavnagar all set for Republic Day celebrations

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:07:08 +0000

Coastal city of Bhavnagar is all set for the two-day festivities as part of the state-level Republic Day celebrations.

Governor Kamla Beniwal and Chief Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Bhavnagar on Wednesday and presided over host of functions.

Modi also laid the foundation stone for ‘Roll On Roll Off’ ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej on Wednesday. The project aims to facilitate speedy passenger travel and smooth cargo movement through the sea route between Ghogha and Dahej. While distance between the two ports by land route is 360 km, by the sea-route it is only 31 km.

After visiting Ghogha, Modi arrived at Bhavnagar city where he flagged off anti-malnutrition rally in which over 30,000 persons reportedly took part.

Later in the afternoon, Modi addressed a Mahila Samela before moving for ‘At Home’ programme for the freedom fighter.

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Now Nitin Gadkari also bats Narendra Modi as Prime Minister candidate

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:14:40 +0000

Ruling out himself as his party’s prime ministerial candidate, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday favoured Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the top job and promised to back his candidature as party chief.

“I will never be a candidate for PM nor will I topple anybody. Modi has good potential to be BJP president and PM,” Gadkari said.

Gadkari, whose term as BJP president comes to an end in December, said he is not interested in extension of his tenure. “I am ready to work as an ordinary party worker. I will support Narendra Modi to take over the mantle.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJE47kLep00

Dodging questions on who will be party’s likely choice for the PM’s post, Gadkari said, “BJP is not a proprietary party and we will decide PM’s candidate at the appropriate time.”

Asked whether BJP should now launch Narendra Modi on the national stage, Gadkari said, Narendra Modi has very good potential to be both BJP President and PM.

The BJP chief stoutly defended fielding Uma Bharti in UP’s electoral battlefield and discounted dissensions within the party’s state leadership over the import of the firebrand leader into the state.

“Uma Bharti is a national and respectable party leader and has been at the forefront of many projects in the state including the Ram Janambhhopmi movement. If Sonia Gandhi from Italy can contest polls in Amethi, what’s the problem with Uma?,” he asked.

Gadkari said he had declared at the very beginning that Bharti will lead the BJP’s campaign in UP and claimed that she was fielded only after consulting leaders of the state.

When pointed out that Rajnath Singh had expressed reservations against Bharti on this channel about making an ‘outsider’ CM if the party came to power in the state, Gadkari said, “No one feels threatened by Uma.” Putting virtually on notice partymen for off-record briefing to the media, Gadkari asked for the names of such leaders. ”Give me the names of leaders not happy with her (Uma’s) induction into the state,” he thundered.

He also strongly defended tainted and sacked UP Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha’s induction into the party saying there was no FIR against the former BSP leader. The decision had not gone down well with senior party leaders like L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

But Gadkari said none of these leaders had officially protested against the decision. “The leaders should talk to me rather than the media if they have any disagreement.”

“I own the decision to induct Kushwaha into the party,” Gadkari said revealing that the decision was taken after consulting national and state party leaders. But he said the issue is closed for now as Kushwaha himself had asked to keep his membership on hold.

Gadkari ruled out any truck with BSP or SP in case the UP elections threw up a hung assembly. ”My strength in politics is credibility. We don’t want to have any direct or indirect alliance with BSP or SP.” The BJP president said his greatest challenge is to get over 200 seats for the party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

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China Steel Corp to set up Rs.6,000-cr Electrical Steel Plant at Dahej

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:09:40 +0000

Taiwan-based China Steel Corporation (CSC) today signed an agreement with Gujarat Government in presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi to set up an Electrical Steel Plant on a 145-acre plot at Dahej GIDC Estate at a cost of Rs.6,000-crore. The construction on phase-1 of the project is scheduled to begin in June 2012 and manufacturing to start in 2014.

Taiwan’s Ambasssador ONG Wen-Chyi was present during the signing ceremony. The agreement was signed by CSC Chairman J. D. Lin and Gujarat Government’s iNDEXTb Managing Director Mukesh Kumar.

Others present on the occasion included Gujarat’s Principal Secretary (Industries) M. Sahu, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary K. Kailashnathan and Industries Commissioner B.B. Swain.

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Narendra Modi honored for “Outstanding contribution to the cause of Indian Business” by CNBC TV 18 Award -2012

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:12:49 +0000

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi bagged the India Business Leader–CNBC TV 18 Award -2012 for his outstanding contribution to the Cause of Indian Business. On behalf of Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Resident Commissioner Shri Bharat Lal received this award from Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee at a function held here.

Shri Modi is the only political leader who has been selected for the distinguished award which has been established to honour the individuals and organizations that have created new benchmarks for corporate excellence and have taken Indian business to a new echelon of fame.

When the whole world was reeling under the economic slowdown, Shri Modi’s vision and governance made Gujarat to achieve an unprecedented double digit economic growth.Gujarat has registered a GDP growth of over 10 percent over past five years which is the highest growth rate among all the states in India.

He is the only political entity who has propagated avision that growth of Gujarat is integral for India’s development which can be achieved by developing a synergistic approach towards converting the slowdown into an opportunity for all to excel.

Under the leadership, statesmanship and governance of Shri Modi which he displayed in last decade as Chief Minister,Gujarat is home to one of the best infrastructure in the country. It is power surplus and sells power to other States. It is free of labour disputes and issues relating to land acquisition.

Shri Modi envisioned events such the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit since 2003. Thousands of crores of rupees have since flowed into the State. He also harnessed the new opportunities brought in by the ongoing economic reforms, liberalisation and globalisation of the Indian economy.

To realize the vision of Gujarat in totality, capitalizing on the in-house financial business acumen is a must. Shri Modi has laid his dream project, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) as the test-bed for future city technologies to cater to India’s large financial services potential by offering global firms, world-class infrastructure and facilities.

Since coming to power in 2001, Shri Modi hasreoriented and reorganized government’s administrative structure, embarked upon a massive exercise for rehabilitation of people, reconstruction of infrastructure, recreation of the business environment and rejuvenation of the traditional entrepreneurial spirit of Gujarat. In the very first year of his tenure, he came out with an integrated strategy for overall development of the State. It is known as Panchamrut (five nectars) and includes Jal Shakti : Harnessing of Water Resources, Gyan Shakti : Quality and coverage in Education, Jan Shakti : Development of Human Resources, Urja Shakti : Power of energy sources and Raksha Shakti : Security and well being of people. The efforts of his government have resulted into metamorphosis of a revenue deficit state into a revenue surplus state.

He is widely regarded as a youthful and energetic leader with innovative thoughts and determination to implement them. Shri Modi has not only offered conducive environment to industry honchos to bloom and flourish but has also mobilized employment opportunities for other sections of the society particularly youth, poor and girls. According to Government of India’s recently released survey, Gujarat accounts for 72 percent of the total employment rate whereas rest of India stands at 28 percent.

In 2011, Shri Narendra Modi launched an ambitious campaign by the name MISSION MANGALAM with an objective to organize the poor into Self Help Groups/ Sakhi Mandals and link them with banks, build capacities in them and lead them towards sustainable livelihoods. Under this umbrella, the State Government has initiated a major programme of Corporate-Business Partnerships to conceptualize and implement projects which would generate and augment livelihoods in the rural areas of Gujarat to the tune of 1.2 million in the next 3-5 years. The total financial commitments to enable the above would be exceeding Rs. 20,000 Crores.

It was Tata Nano that first put the spotlight on Gujarat four years ago, when its car-manufacturing project was relocated here after a troubled stint in West Bengal. Since then, other automakers have followed Tata Motors to the State. Car manufacturing plants are rapidly dotting the landscape with the likes of Ford, Peugeot, Tata Motors and Maruti-Suzuki set for some big plans.

Shri Modi mooted a model of development through people’s participation. USP of hisdevelopment model has been: a quantumleap (think big) and change right from the roots (no cosmetic changes). A large number of water harvesting structures like check dams, farm ponds and initiatives like Krishi Mahotsav (agricultural festival) and Kanya kelavani campaign (girl child education drive) are its examples. Agriculture production quadrupled from Rs.9,000 crores to 34,000 crores. Gujarat leads in energy production with 1878 megawatts of power generation. Through the Jyotigram yojana, he has been able to supply uninterrupted three phase round the clock electricity to all the 18,000 villages of the state.The rural economy is now vibrant owing to this and the villages have turned into centers of production. The state has ushered in a water revolution with creation of a large number of water harvesting structures and popularization of micro-irrigation techniques. Gujarat is the only state where, under the project e-gram vishwa gram, all the 18,000 villages are being provided broadband connectivity.

One of the key factors catalyzing Gujarat’s emergence as the most preferred investment destination is its security. Gujarat has the lowest crime rate in the country in last six years. Terrorist nexus, mafias and gangs have all lost grounds here.

A leader who believes in team-work and a good work culture, Shri Modi has launched an ambitious training programme for the 5,00,000 government employees in Gujarat which is being watched in awe by every other state. Many of his initiatives like evening courts, interlinking of rivers, Jyotigram, Grievance redressal through SWAGAT online and others are being viewed as models for replication at the national level.

The remarkable development projects achieved in Gujarat under Chief Minister Modi’s leadership during last decade was not only applauded by industrialists but national leaders also. Gujarat has set an example for other Indian States as well as reserved its place in the South Asian sub-continent.It is quite gratifying that State Government’s efforts in good governance are being applauded the world over. The visit of Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi to China in November 2011 has been a grand success and generated huge interest among business and industrial community as well as the Chinese political leadership. Chinese being diligent to the core, having seen all round development and spectacular growth of Gujarat, and the leadership provided by Mr. Narendra Modi, wants to build a strong and enduring relationship with Gujarat.

Gujarat has received more than 200 national and international awards in last nine years for Good Governance.

Shri Kumar Manglam Birla, Ms. Chanda Kochhar, Shri Deepak Parekh, Shri Raghav Bahal and other eminent personalities were the jury members for selection of the awardees.

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Godhra gears up to embrace Narendra Modi’s Sadbhavana Mission on January 20

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:40:20 +0000

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s concluding Sadbhavana fast in Godhra on January 20 is no ordinary affair. This is evident from the hectic preparations being carried out in the city by all concerned government agencies.

From collector to police head, from party volunteer to MLA, from schools to even community organisations — everyone in Godhra is extra busy these days in the countdown to the event on Friday. Incidentally, the day is considered to be the holiest in the week for Muslims with afternoon prayers playing a significant role.

For starters, it is going to be a big security nightmare, with agencies already on their toes. Huge crowd of people are expected to gather at mosques for the afternoon prayers. Modi’s fast venue is the SRP ground which is close to the district superintendent office.

The venue is not too far from the Polan Bazar, a Muslim-dominated area. Nearly 50% of the 1,100 cops with Godhra police have been deployed as part of the security bandobast for the fast. Talking to, the superintendent of police, Panchmahals district, Sachin Badshah said that they have a rough plan for the Sadbhavana fast and rest of the things are still in the planning stage.

Badshah said if required, some additional State Reserve Police (SRP) will be called from other districts. “We need to take care of traffic, VIP movements and the security in the programme,” Badshah said.

He said police are also holding several meetings in connection with the security arrangements. “Even though the town has both Hindus and Muslims, no incidents of communal violence have been reported here in recent past,” he said.

The collector of Godhra district, Manisha Chandra too is busy finalising the last minute preparations for the big event. Sources said Modi will directly fly down from Gandhinagar to Godhra in a helicopter.

“The SRP ground, where the programme is to be held has a helipad and CM will directly land there,” the source said.Before coming to the venue, Modi is likely to spend some time at the Circuit House in Godhra. The exact timings of his stay in Godhra is yet to be decided.

Along with police and the collectorate, the district BJP office too has initiated meetings at the taluka as well as village level. “Efforts will be made to bring people from all major communities and tribals as well, to be part of the CM’s event,” president, Panchmahal BJP, Jayprakash Patel told DNA.

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Modi Effects ? Chinese court frees 13 jailed Gujarati Diamond Traders

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:40:28 +0000

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today thanked China for acting on his request to speed up the judicial process for 22 Indian diamond traders, most of them from the state, imprisoned there.

“Thankful to China for acting on my request of speeding judicial process for 22 Indians imprisoned there for 2 years,” Modi tweeted.

Modi had last month gone on a five-day visit to China to explore investment opportunities here. During his visit the Chief Minister had also taken up the issue of diamond traders languishing in China’s jail, with the ruling Communist Party of China.

Ten of the 22 Indian traders, charged with smuggling diamonds worth USD 7.3 million into China, were today sentenced to varied prison terms ranging from 23 months to six years by a Shenzhen court which ordered the deportation of the remaining 12.

The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court, which conducted the trial of the diamond traders, sentenced one of them to six years, two to five years each, one to three years and six months and five others to three years each.

One more trader sentenced to one year and 11 months in jail, is likely to be released as his term is complete, according to a member of Indian China Economic and Cultural Council Gujarat (ICECCG) here.

A leading diamond industry body of Surat has welcomed the judgement saying it is a positive steps towards getting justice.

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Narendra Modi nominated for Must-Follow Politician on Social Media on Mashable. Did you voted ?

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:52:00 +0000

Our favourite leader, Shri Narendra Modi is selected as finalist in Mashable Awards for “Must-Follow Politician on Social Media”!

THE ONLY INDIAN NOMINATED IN 28 CATEGORIES

The category in which Modi has been nominated honours those politicians, who make best use of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Tumblr or other mainstream social networking sites. Other six nominees in this category include Barack Obama, Cory Brooker, Ron Paul, Buddy Roemer, Bernie Sanders and Herman Cain.

Thanks to the growing fans and followers, Shri Narendra Modi has been nominated as the ‘Must-Follow Politician on Social Media’ in the prestigious Mashable Awards! This category honors the reader’s choice for the politician who best uses Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Tumblr or other mainstream social networking sites.
As most of us know, Mashable Awards hold great international stature and winning an award in it means winning pride for India. As the winners are selected by community votes, we can help bring this pride to India!

How to vote: Vote for Shri Narendra Modi by signing in from your Twitter or Facebook account. Once you’re on the voting page, you can select Narendra Modi by clicking on ‘Select an Option’ and then choosing Narendra Modi amongst the 7 options.

You can submit one vote per day through both Twitter and Facebook. Voting is open till December 16th.

We have voted! Now, it’s your turn to vote and invite your friends and relatives to vote too! Pass this email to as many Namo fans as possible!

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Akshay Kumar wants to be brand ambassador of Gujarat

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:04:40 +0000

After Sunil Shetty, Sanajy Dutt, Ajay Devgan & Amitabh Bachhan become brand ambassador of Gujarat now it’s turn for Khiladi No. 1 to join Narendra Modi fan club.

Showering praises on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a sports event here, actor Akshay Kumar has expressed desire to become brand ambassador of the state even as he proposed martial art training at school level. The actor was speaking at the inauguration of the seven-day long ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ or mega sports event organised by the Gujarat government at M S University Pavilion ground last night.

The actor praised Modi for including 60,000 differently-abled persons in the event for the first time since the beginning of the sports jamboree last year. A record number of about 2.2 million players from across the state have registered for taking part in different categories of sports.

The number is 7.2 lakh more than participation of 15 lakh players in the Khel Mahakumbh organised last year. “Never have I heard of such an initiative. I would love to be Gujarat’s brand Ambassador if it was offered to me,” the action hero said. Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat to promote tourism. Replying to Akshay Kumar’s proposal that the schools in Gujarat could impart training to kids in martial arts, chief minister Narendra Modi said, “Akshay Kumar has met me on several occasions in the past pleading for such training in Gujarat. Though I am aware of achievements of the actor, I will definitely look into his demand”. Martial arts is not just about violence or fighting but about the power to change one’s life,” the actor said.

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Dholera SIR to be developed on Shanghai model: Narendra Modi

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:22:43 +0000

Impressed by Yangshan deep water port near Shanghai, chief minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) would be developed on the Shanghai model.

The CM reached Shanghai on Thursday, a day after visiting Beijing, during which he met representatives of leading Chinese companies and also held talks with Chinese leaders. Modi, who is being accompanied by senior government officials and dozen-odd industry leaders, inspected the various technologies deployed at Yangshan port.

Located in the Yangtze River delta region, Yangshan port is the largest deep water port on China’s east coast. The Shanghai International Shipping Centre started construction of the port in 2002, while operations began in December 2005.

Spread over 72 km and equipped with 16 deep water all-weather berths, the port handles over 20 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per annum.

On the third day of his China visit, Modi also met Indian families settled in Shanghai, and apprised them about the rapid development witnessed by the state in different sectors in the past 10 years.

Gujarat‘s 1,600-km long coastline boasts of three major ports and 45 minor ones. The state government has initiated plans to develop more than half a dozen new ports in the state.

Taking advantage of the port privatisation policy, the state has emerged as the hub of India’s sea trade, accounting for 70% of the country’s total cargo handled, according to officials. Modi said that Gujarat’s sea coast was fast emerging as a vital link between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Gujarat is also the only state which boasts of two LNG terminals – at Hazira and Dahej. Two more LNG terminals are in the offing, according to the state government.

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The rise and rise of tomorrow’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:50:20 +0000

No politician in independent India has been demonised in such a relentless, Goebbelsian manner as Narendra Modi, and no politician has withstood it with as much resilience and courage as him, notwithstanding the entire Central government, influential sections of the media machinery and civil society arraigned against him.

His dark patch started with the unfortunate Godhra train massacre and the ensuing communal riots in Gujarat in 2002, where several innocent people lost their lives. A train carrying non-violent harmless karsewaks were set on fire and nearly 60 persons were burnt to death. Understandably, but regrettably, this provoked retaliation and mayhem resulting in many innocent members of the minority community losing their lives and suffering other indignities. It is equally true that the desire for revenge did paralyse the will of some law enforcement agencies, including some prosecutors and judges. Serious steps had to be taken to restore the confidence of the victims of revenge in the legal and judicial system of the state.

The most diabolical role was played by the Congress government at the Centre. A bogus commission was appointed to whitewash the Godhra tragedy to establish that the attack on the train was not the result of a conspiracy of some evil minded Muslims, but an accidental stove fire. This serious crime by the Congress government was fully exposed when a Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court made their own independent investigation and reiterated that the burning of the pilgrims was a concerted plan by those who must have known that it will inevitably lead to retaliation and atrocities against the minorities, a finding fortified by recent court judgments. Their evil calculations proved to be right. Obviously, the planners wanted India to get a bad name, its national unity and integrity shaken and its defence against scheming neighbours enfeebled.

The unfortunate riots were followed by the state elections, the results of which made the psephologists run for cover. One is reminded of a story, which may well be apocryphal, but is fairly apposite and bears repetition. The Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, wanted to hold an open air reception in Simla and sought, and received, the assurance of the weather bureau that there wouldn’t be any showers on that day. But while strolling on the mall, he encountered a farmer and his donkey. Proletarian as he pretended to be, he struck up a conversation with him and made the same enquiry. The farmer looked at his donkey and said, “Whenever my mate’s ears shake the way they are doing now, it just pours.” The Viceroy made light of the donkey signal, but his evening party was a big fiasco. In anger, he had the weather station removed to faraway Pune as punishment. I hope the media will never again mess with Narendra Modi or Gujarat elections. Modi won a landslide victory, which even he and his followers could not have imagined or hoped for. I congratulated him for his brilliant victory, but I sincerely advised him that he should wear a look of absolute humility; he should publicly own that something had seriously gone wrong and that he should loudly proclaim that India could never go forward and retain its independence and sovereignty unless Hindus and Muslims were locked in an embrace of love and mutual understanding. He must declare his firm resolve to bring back to the minorities a feeling of absolute security and an assurance of every kind of protection by the powers of the state. Modi thought out and reasoned his strategy and since then his stature has risen manifold to heights rarely attained before.

Today, vast sections of civil society see in him the next Prime Minister of India. I hope he will plant more visible footprints on the international seashore. He has to speak of peace and a durable solution to the Kashmir problem with the rulers of Pakistan. He must project himself as a great democratic leader of the world and a fighter for human rights and justice the world over. On the domestic front, I am proud to see him winning Muslim hearts by presenting to them the real Hindutva, which even the Supreme Court had to acknowledge and admire. Let not the real Hindutva be confused with its counterfeit version, which unfortunately gains currency during the course of electoral battles.

The policies and conduct of Narendra Modi may be compared with those of the late Rajiv Gandhi. The sad assassination of his mother led to what may accurately be described as a virtual genocide of the Sikhs. Armed bands of hooligans and murderers went around the streets and colonies of Delhi in search of innocent Sikhs, sought them out and slaughtered them mercilessly. We saw some Sikhs being burnt alive on public roads while crowds watched the heartrending scenes. Even the then Sikh President could not move a finger to help the unfortunate followers of Guru Nanak. I cannot forget those shameful days even now. All that the new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had to say was a defiant, “When a big tree falls the earth must shake”. Never did the Congress leadership apologise for the atrocities and the murders. It is the greatness of the Sikh community that they have forgiven the Congress.

In a corruption ridden country where the chief source of corruption is the Congress and its leaders, Narendra Modi shines for his impeccable integrity. He has focused his entire energy on building in Gujarat an able administration and good governance. He has achieved phenomenal development and economic growth, and at the same time bolstered social inclusiveness. Through these he has worked hard to regain the confidence of the minorities, even as the relentless and pervasive hate campaign against him has continued unabated in the electronic media, among the fashionable intellectuals and civil society activists, who have become the media sweethearts.

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Narendra Modi PM in making: Navjot Singh Sidhu

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:38:53 +0000

Comparing Narendra Modi with the likes of Subhash Chandra Bose and Shymaprasad Mukherjee, BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday said the Gujarat chief minister is the ‘prime minister in making‘.

“We need people like Modi who, like Subhash Chandra Bose and Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, has dedicated his life to the nation,” he told a gathering at Gujarat University Convention centre, the venue of Modi’s fast.

“A former prime minister had once said of the Rs 100 sent for poor people, only Rs 5 reach them. I say, it is shame on the PM. Now the Prime Minister in making (pointing at Modi) says, ‘give me Rs 100 and I will give the poor Rs 110′,” Sidhu said.

“Give the reigns of the country to Modi for 10 years and people will start saying they want their children to become politicians like Modi,” the former cricketer said.

Comparing Modi with Maharana Ranjit Singh, Sidhu said said, “Individuals come and go but one who has character like Modi, goes on to become immortal.”

Sidhu said Modi made Gujarat from ‘zero to hero’. Gujarat was bankrupt earlier and became a rich state after Modi took over, he claimed.

Terming Modi a ‘brave knight’, he said the CM has to fight the war for truth like Arjun in ‘Mahabharata’.

Hitting out at the Centre, he said, “The Union government is sleeping like Kumbhkaran. It needs to be woken up from the slumber.”

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