US-India Business Council (USIBC) Showers Praise on Narendra Modi

Highlights of Narendra Modi Speech at SRCC New Delhi on 6th Feb

Chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi was delivering the annual 'Shri Ram Memorial Oration' as part of Shri Ram College of Commerce's Management Festival 'Business Conclave 2013' in New Delhi on Wednesday on 6th Feb 2013.
Nation of Mouse charmers
Mouse charmers: The youth of the nation has its finger on the mouse of computers and is changing the world. India's journey has gone from snake charmers to mouse charmers!
India has a huge growth opportunity
"The ambassador of a nation asked me what major challenges India faces and I said the biggest one is that how we use opportunity. When asked what the opportunity was, I said the youth. Europe buddha ho chuka hai, China budha ho chuka hai." According to Modi India has a huge growth opportunity in the form of youth. "Our country is not poor. We have vast resources, see eastern India is full of them. But we are unable to use that. We are unable to utilise the opportunity," Modi said.
P2G2: Pro-people, good governance
"We need P2G2. Pro-People Good governance": Pitching for the role of 'good governance', Modi said that the people of the country have sunk into an overwhelming state of pessimism. "Even after six decades of freedom, the nation awaits good governance," Modi said. Speaking in Hindi on 'Emerging business models in the global scenario', Modi said the nation can progress by following 'Gujarat model' based on P2G2 (Pro-people good governance) principle.
The glass is always full!
"I believe that the glass is full. One half with water and the other half with air." There is despondency all over country but I am confident we can change the situation. Picking up a glass of water, he said an optimist would say the glass is half full, while a pessimist would say it is half empty. "I have a third point of view. For me the glass is always full -- half with water and half with air. We can turn over the situation," he said.
Milk in Delhi is from Gujarat
There must be no one in the audience who has chai without doodh from Gujarat in it. All the milk in Delhi is from Gujarat. Milk in Singapore is from Gujarat, Okra in Europe is from Gujarat. Stating that the state's agricultural sector has exhibited growth, Modi said, "If you go to Afghanistan, the people there have tomatoes that come from Gujarat." Further talking about the development of the state, Modi said that the milk in Singapore and the 'bhindi' in Europe come from Gujarat.
Minimum government, maximum governance
Minimum government, maximum governance - this is my philosophy. "This nation is being ruined by vote bank politics. This nation requires development politics. If we switch to politics of development, we will soon be in a position to bring about lasting change and progress," Modi said. "People feel nothing would change here. All are thieves, everything they do is waste. People consider it a curse to be born in India. They want to leave the country soon after completing their studies," Modi said delivering the Shri Ram Memorial Oration.
Why not export teachers?
A businessman who goes abroad only captures dollars but a teacher influences a whole generation, said Modi while emphasising the need for education and promoting teaching as a vocation. "We have created a university for teachers. I say we have so much youth and export so much, why not export teachers?" Citing Gujarat's mantra of success that can be emulated by the country for speedy progress, he said the focus should be on the manufacturing sector by making zero-defect products with good packaging.
Re-invent Made in India
"Why shouldn't we make the 'Made in India' tag a statement of quality for our manufactured products?," he questioned. Modi said there is a need to build the 'Made in India' brand. He drew a parallel between the credibility of a 'Made in Japan' tag and expressed the wish to have India reach such a level some day. "The whole world says 21st century is India's century. Some say it is Asia's century, while some also say it is China's century. I am confident that 21st century can be India's century as knowledge is supreme," he said.
Delhi's Metro, Gujarat's Coach!
Some years ago I launched a product which is now a part of Delhi. I launched a coach of the Delhi Metro! In Delhi all the metro coaches are coming from Gujarat. Touting the recent 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit' which accepted the global relevance of Gujarat with the presence of 121 nations there, Modi said, "When the world sees this, they infuse confidence that we can do."
Youth 'new-age power'
Youth 'new-age power', not 'new-age voter' alone. Youth have changed the way India is perceived today. Modi stressed the role of youth in the development of the nation.

U.S Representative Joe Walsh Supports Granting of U.S. Visa To Shri Narendra Modi

Muslim Samaj of Gujarat is strongly with Narendra Modi

Sare Dunia me Es ka Nam Roshan Rehega

Now, Maulana Mahmood Madani backs Modi: More worry for Congress?

New Delhi, Feb 18: Who said the name Narendra Modi only ignites anti-Muslim sentiments? Maulana Mahmood Madani, general secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind recently said that the outlook of the Muslims in Gujarat towards the state's chief minister was changing and several Muslims had voted for him in the last assembly elections. "In Gujarat, Jamiat workers on the ground have told me that in several assembly segments, Muslims voted for Modi. There is a perceptible change and circumstances are different now... Muslims in Gujarat are economically better off than in several states which have so-called secular governments in power," Madani told a news channel. The BJP came up with a good performance in the Muslim-dominated areas in the recent civic polls in the state. The party particularly boasted its result in Salaya, an area comprising 90% Muslim population but where the Congress could not win a single seat. In fact, all 24 minority candidates whom the BJP fielded in the municipal poll had won. The party also snatched 10 seats from the Congress and bagged 47 out of 75 seats. Madani said Modi was no longer an 'untouchable' man for the Muslims, adding that the condition of the Muslims in states like Maharashtra and West Bengal, which are claimed to be run by secular governments is appalling. He also said that Muslims in Bihar were voting in favour of the BJP which is in alliance with the secular JD(U). Madani's comment is significant for it was he who had played a key role in ousting Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi, the rector of Dar-ul-Uloom, Deoband, a couple of years earlier for his pro-Modi remark. Madani's remark will undoubtedly boost the saffron brigade to go ahead to declare Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. Though other Muslim organisations like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have slammed Madani for his praising Modi, the BJP leadership felt that Madani's remark was realistic. AIMPLB leader Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli said the 2002 Gujarat progrom could not be ignored and there was no question of supporting Modi. He was referring to talks that Modi might contest the next Lok Sabha election from UP. Majority-minority debate will continue but what is significant is that it is the question of development which is gaining prominence over Hindutva. A section of the BJP leaders and the RSS have been seen chalking out a route for the revival of the Hindutva agenda, particularly after Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's 'Hindu terror' remark. The ongoing Mahakumbh in Allahabad was also brought under the ambit of saffron politics but despite all this, it has been proved that Modi's development model has indeed made the difference. Madani's comment will raise concern for the Congress for although the latter has emphasised on 'soft communalism' to counter 'hard communalism', it is yet to find an answer to the development model. The Congress leadership will be precisely perturbed by Madani's words for minority vote-bank is its biggest weapon in the prestige battle against Modi. Moreover, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had openly campaigned for the Congress during the Uttar Pradesh assembly election last year. This fresh stance of Madani's outfit is bound to raise many eyebrows in the Congress. Sadhus, students and now minorities. Narendra Modi's appeal is covering more ground with each passing day. Can the Congress find an answer to the Blitzkrieg? And why not BJP announcing the Gujarat CM as its PM candidate straightaway? The drama is getting intense before the next big polls.Reports OneIndia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamiat leader's pro-Narendra Modi remarks rile Congress, Left TNN | Feb 19, 2013
NEW DELHI: The Congress and the Left Front came in for some uncomfortable criticism by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani who, in an interview to a private TV channel, said a section of Muslims have voted for Narendra Modi and the BJP in Gujarat. "In Gujarat, Jamiat workers on the ground have told me that in several assembly segments, Muslims voted for Modi. There is a perceptible change and circumstances are different now," said Madani to the channel. Madani said, "Some Muslims have indeed voted for Modi primarily for two reasons — fear and that the alternative is not good enough either." While the BJP was quick to embrace Madanis remarks, Congress dismissed them saying it may be his personal opinion and that not all Muslims subscribe to that view. "Muslims in Gujarat are economically better off than in several states which have so-called secular governments in power. More innocent Muslims are in the prisons of Maharashtra than in Gujarat. The human rights record of several states with secular governments in power is deplorable and the economic situation of Muslims in West Bengal is shocking. These states don't have a Modi at the helm. We cannot ignore this ground reality," Madani told the channel. About development in Gujarat, Madani said, "There cannot be development without justice. The culprits in 2002 riot victims must be punished." The Jamiat leader added, "The problem is if anybody talks about the woes of Muslims in UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan or West Bengal, it is construed as favouring BJP. That is a flawed perception." CPM polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury cited historical reasons, including Partition and Bangladesh liberation war of 1971, for the condition of Muslims in Bengal. "The Left Front government in Bengal had recognized the problems of Muslim empowerment long before the Sachar Committee and had begun addressing them. We were the first to suggest a sub-plan for Muslims in the Planning Commission," he said. BJP, however, welcomed the praise for Modi from unexpected quarters saying the comments of Madani showed everybody is reconciling to the fact he is an able administrator. "He (Madani) has spoken positively about the status of the minorities in Gujarat and has also praised Modi's style of functioning. BJP welcomes Madani's statement," party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, while replying to a question on Madani's claim that there is a change in the way Muslims looked at the BJP government in Gujarat and Modi. He said now even the minorities are realizing Modi's good work. "Everybody is reconciling to the fact that Modi is a good leader and an able administrator. This is welcome and this message should be taken to the minorities in the country," he added. Reports Times of India

The Pseudo Secular Forces Surrenders -The truth revealed

Note: The Sun can not be covered by dark clouds always The truth will emerge like the bright Sun - The Pseudo Secular forces and the so Called media both visual and print has done great sin and injustice to the Nation.Now it is time to wash out their sins by telling the world the truth -The youth of India will not allow a mistake again - They have found the true Leader

How Narendra Modi heals Muslims woes, fetches votes for BJP

Ahmedabad, Feb 14: Days after the historical victory of Bharaitya Janata Party (BJP) in Salaya, Salem Mohammad Baghaad explained why the Muslims of the town voted for Narendra Modi's BJP leaving their woes behind. BJP won all 27 seats of town municipality in Salaya, a Muslim-majority town in Dwarka district. Among BJP's 27 candidates, 24 were Muslims while remaining three were Hindus including one Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidate. Salem Mohammad Baghaad is one of the Muslim candidates who had helped BJP which for the first time will govern the local corporation in Salaya, a town where Muslims form 90 percent of the population. While speaking about the election, Baghdad stated that he had represented Congress, the Samata Party and other political parties at different phases of his career. But now, when he is with BJP, he is at the peek of his political career, asserted 45-year-old Baghaad. He was quoted as saying, "Honestly, joining the BJP was a tough decision for me. But I was confident about myself, about my decision. I knew if I joined hands with Mr Modi, it will mean more benefits for the town and more development." "It was like Narendra Modi opened the government coffers for us. Whatever money we wanted for development came flowing in. And it hasn't stopped," added Mr Baghaad. Salaya has been enjoying fruits of development with Essar Energy's integrated energyc company establishing a power unit to generate 1200 mw. Salaya I is Essar Energy's first coal fired power project and has been built at a total investment cost of US$1.1 billion. Most of the power produced will be sold to the Gujarat state electricity utility, GUVNL, under a long term contract. When all the units are commissioned, the project is expected to generate nearly 2000 mw power. Salaya will also be getting a world-class marine infrastructure project with a state-of-the-art material handling facility. The bulk handling port will be capable of handling 20 MMTPA of cargo. The jetty is located in the Salaya Harbour, which is naturally protected by two islands - Kalubhar Tapu and Dhani Be. The results of the Panchayat vote prove that Muslims in the state started adopting the advances of development in Gujarat leaving the woes which they had.

BJP sweeps polls in Muslim-dominated Salaya municipality

Gandhinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party registered one more victory in Gujarat by sweeping the polls in the Salaya municipality in Gujarat's Jamnagar, where 90 per cent of the population is Muslim. The BJP put up 24 Muslim candidates in a total of 27 seats, all of whom won. The Congress did not win any seat in Salaya. Salaya has traditionally been a Congress bastion. This is for the first time that the BJP has won all the 27 seats of this minority-dominated town. The BJP also posted impressive wins in civic elections by winning 47 of the 76 municipalities for which elections were held. Out of 75 municipalities, the results of which were declared today by the State Election Commission, 47 were won by BJP while Congress managed to win nine, officials said. VideoPhotoGallery This is for the first time that the BJP has won all the 27 seats of this minority-dominated town. Out of 76 municipalities where election were declared, Halvad in Surendranagar and Kutiyana in Porbandar were won by BJP unopposed and polling was held for 74 'Nagar Palikas' or municipalities on Sunday. Counting for the Bhachau municipality was suspended as the seals of some of the EVMs were found to be broken and the election commission said that counting there would be held later. Out of the 75 municipalities, the BJP has won 47, the Congress in nine, independent candidates have emerged as a majority block in nine municipalities while no party could manage majority in 10 municipalities. BJP has won 1,142 out of 1,905 seats across all municipalities while Congress won 442 seats and independent won 290 seats. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also made inroads by winning 13 and 16 seats respectively, whereas Samajwadi Party (SP) has won 2 seats. Gujarat Parivartan Party led by Keshubhai Patel claimed that 54 of the independents who won were its candidates. "If the SEC had provided us a common symbol in the municipal elections, we would have been able to win more seats," party general secretary Gordhan Zadafia said. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, elated by the victory, coming it within couple of months after victory in the assembly elections, said, "Thankful to people of Gujarat for the continued faith in us. Congrats to BJP workers for major win in municipalities polls". State BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja said that besides retaining all the Municipalities where BJP was in power, the party has snatched 10 from the ruling Congress party. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Arjun Modhwadia said, "Congress fought on party symbol in 57 of the 75 municipalities while elsewhere, it contested the polls by forming 'nagrik samitis'. Actually, Congress has won 19 and lost another 10 by only 2 or 3 seats. The BJP fought on party symbol and misused the state machinery during the polls".

Narendra Modi demands provisions for high speed rail in budget

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said seriousness on implementation of high speed rail (HSR) should reflect in the railway budget and provisions for the same should be there to provide an impetus to the ambitious project. "In the forthcoming budget of Centre, I expect that some seriousness should reflect on this (HSR)...some provision should be there for HSR in the budget and then things would start connecting," Mr Modi said while delivering keynote remarks at the second HSR seminar organised in India by Japan here. "If the GoI takes an initiative, Gujarat government shall never be behind. The state will not shy from making its contribution to this prestigious project and shall provide all sort of financial and logistics support to it," he said. A project steering group under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been formed, which is trying to evolve an appropriate financial model for HSR implementation. Mr Modi said out of the HSR corridors identified in India, Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune was the most economically viable one and in the backdrop of Gujarat's key role in Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), it would be prudent to speed up its implementation. "Amongst the six high speed corridors identified in country, Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune seemed to be most economically viable one," Mr Modi said. The second seminar on HSR in India was organised by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan, in association with Ministry of Railways, Government of Gujarat and CII. "Since 1980, HSR has remained confined to thought level only, now it should speed up. We all know that Western Railway (WR) is the most revenue earning region for Indian Railways, and within WR the maximum income comes from Ahmedabad," Mr Modi told the Japanese gathering. "It signifies that Gujarat has been contributing to railways right from beginning and indirectly to Government of India through the railways," Mr Modi said, adding that HSR corridor would be remunerative in the sector. Japan is among the few countries vying for HSR corridors project, which is part of Indian Railways Vision 2020. Indian Railways had set up a High Speed Rail Corporation of India in July 2012 for the implementation of HSR in India. The pre-feasibility studies have been done for HSR corridors, Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad (650 km), Delhi-Agra-Varanasi -Lucknow-Patna (990 km), Howrah-Haldia (135 km), Hyderabad -Bhilwada-Chennai (664 km). "Around 15 countries in the world have done major work on HSR and each one of them has evolved a system, technology and financial models in its own way...So after studying each one of them we can learn a lot and eventually develop our own model, which can be sustainable," Mr Modi said. "India is one country which enjoys good relationship with Japan. In the last three Vibrant Gujarat Summits, Japan has been an active participant as partner country with Gujarat," he said. According to Indian Railways (IR), there are four to five countries which are thinking on implementing HSR now. "The developing countries are still struggling to make a financially viable model to implement HSR. On the financial side the issue is cost of Rs. 125-150 crore per km for HSR," IR Executive Director PPP (Traffic) M S Mathur said. "World over there have been very few private investments in HSR. It can only be made possible either with central or state government fundings," he said. PTI

Narendra Modi is invited to attend European Parliament in Brussels

Ahmedabad: After European Union ended over a decade-long boycott of Narendra Modi, lawmakers from the region have invited him to attend the European Parliament in Brussels in November, according to a post on the Gujarat Chief Minister's blog. The lawmakers have invited Mr Modi to attend the European Parliament in Brussels in November this year. The Parliament will be attended by representatives of over 27 nations. There is also an invitation to attend the European Business Meet in Brussels later this year, according to Mr Modi's blog. The Chief Minister yesterday had an online interaction with the European lawmakers who were attending the 10th corporate culture and spirituality India conference in Bangalore, according to the blog post. The lawmakers appreciated Gujarat's development and congratulated Mr Modi for making the state vibrant. According to the post, during the interaction, Mr Modi highlighted various initiatives taken by the Gujarat government for environment protection. He told them that Gujarat is the first state in India and among the four states in the world to have a separate department on climate change. Briefing the lawmakers about Gujarat's advances in solar energy, Mr Modi told them about Asia's largest solar park in Charanka in Patan district and about state government's roof-top solar policy. The post also spoke of Gujarat's work in other forms of renewable energy, including wind energy. Mr Modi also said that Gujarat is working on a Rama trail from Gujarat to Sri Lanka and proposed a similar Buddha trail from Sri Lanka to Gujarat. Nirj Deva, member of the European Parliament and politician of Britain's Conservative Party, said he will talk to Sri Lankan President on the issue. The Chief Minister also said Gujarat and Russia enjoy very old relations and that the Astrakhan province, which had sent a delegation to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013, is a sister state to Gujarat. Among those, with whom Modi interacted yesterday, were - Joe Leinen, German politician and member of the European Parliament who heads the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in the Parliament; Nirj Deva; Anne Marie Lizin, honorary president of the Belgian Senate; Vladislav Yurchik, leader of Communist Party of Russia and Deputy of the Russian Parliament 'Duma' and Valery Sargienko, member of Siberia's Legislative Assembly and leader of the Communist Party. Mr Modi had a luncheon meeting with envoys and representatives of several European Union member countries in Delhi on January 7 that was hosted by German Ambassador Michael Steiner, ending their boycott of the chief minister since the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Yesterday's interaction was also attended by spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who said Gujarat has progressed immensely and there was peace and progress under Mr Modi's leadership. Quotes:Narendra Modi Blog

Narendra Modi follows his roadmap to Delhi

The Narendra Modi charm offensive showed up in full force in India’s capital on Wednesday. Modi, the main opposition party’s likely prime ministerial candidate gave a speech on progress and development at one of Delhi’s premier colleges, the youthful audience greeted the 62-year-old politician with gusto, news outlets called his speech a “roadmap for India,” protesters showed up en masse and Twitter went bananas. If not a direct declaration of grand political ambition, the nearly one-hour speech at the Shri Ram College of Commerce sounded like a pitch for a national role: here was the chief minister of Gujarat talking about development to more than a thousand students in New Delhi, staying away from the usual and divisive political overtones, repeatedly referring to the youth of the country (future voters), and outlining his vision for India. “The whole world is looking at India as a big marketplace. Why? Because they (other countries) think they can sell here easily. It is the demand of our time to make India a leader in manufacturing and dump our goods in the world market,” Modi said, according to our report on the Reuters news wire. In December he won a fourth consecutive term in office, and since then many in his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s main opposition group, have called for him to lead the party in national elections due by early 2014. In contrast, outside the college gates a crowd of students protested against Modi. Police used water cannons and batons to disperse protesters, one of the protesters told us. That’s what you get with Modi – love him or hate him, be it in the heart of Delhi’s higher education hub or on Twitter. Tweets ranged from: “@goonerRish: Just heard the Modi speech at #srcc..#inspired if there is one guy who understands the youth pov regarding the country” to ” @sachmore123: #Modi is a strong leader who cudn’t stop the riots 4 months & still can’t rehabilitate the victims.Some leadership, uh??” Modi until now has not been a uniter. As our Reuters story said, corporate India and Gujarat voters love him for “fast growth and clean governance,” and in December elected him to a fourth term as chief minister. Still, deadly religious riots in Gujarat have tarnished his record after about 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed. Analysts say Modi’s talk about modernisation and development is a bid to enlist more support from a wider community, something that could help any prime ministerial ambitions that he might harbour, but that he continues to offer subtle hints at his own views on Gujarat’s Muslim minority. Sample this from speech: “Gujarat was never an agricultural state. Earlier it meant a desert. We have always had registan (desert) and next door Pakistan.” While the debate on Modi’s suitability for prime minister will continue until the Bharatiya Janata Party names its candidate, Modi in one speech demonstrated how easily he connects with the public. Top Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are better known for keeping quiet. (Here’s a Twitter joke making the rounds today: @Roflindian: Rahul to [Manmohan Singh], on phone – “Sir, did you listen to Modi’s speech today?” MMS – *silence*. Rahul – “Oh ok. Just wanted to check.”) “Modi’s performance at SRCC was impressive. There are no such speakers in the Congress party,” said political analyst Amulya Ganguli. But that in itself may not help Modi as he will need not only the wholehearted support of his own party but also that of their allied parties. While Wednesday’s speech may be considered an important moment in the emergence of the Gujarat leader on the national front, the real work will be convincing his party that he has convinced the people that he is the right choice to lead India in 2014. Article credits By Shashank Chouhan : Reuters

Vote-bank politics has ruined India, it now needs development: Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Gujarat’s firebrand Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the vote-bank politics has ruined the country and the nation now needs development politics. Gujarat BJP leader also mesmerized a vast gathering of students at the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) by appealing to the youths to make India a global brand. "The solution to all problems is development. The whole nation has been destroyed by vote bank politics, what it needs is development. If there is developement there is much scope for a lot of improvement in the nation," Modi said. “India must learn from global examples to become a global leader. The 21st century belongs to us. We just need to rebrand our country,” said Modi, who was later given a standing ovation for his inspiring speech.. Praising the development model of his state, the Gujarat BJP leader pitched for good governance as the model that will make India an economically developed nation. Delivering a key note address as part of the Business Conclave being organised by the SRCC, the BJP leader said, “Good governance has been the hallmark of Gujarat’s development and it has to be the hallmark for India too, if it has to make its presence felt at the global level.” “Even after six decades of independence, we have yet not achieved the concept of Swaraj- a dream cherished by Mahatma Gandhi. We need to harness the vast natural resources of the country and the untapped potential of our youths while making good governance as the main stay of our economic growth to achieve the goals of Swaraj,” he said. Calling for an integrated approach in the concept of governance and development, Modi said, “Our biggest challenge is to utilize the opportunities available to us to its fullest potential.” Calling on the youths to come forward and participate in the process of the nation building, Modi said, “There is an environment of pessimism in the country, which needs to end. We need to be optimistic.” Displaying his excellent oratory skills, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, “Europe and China are ageing but India is a nation of youths. But our biggest challenge is to make the maximum use of the youth power. “The youth should not be looked upon as mere new-age voters,” he said, Packaging his speech with wit and humour he said, “India is no longer a nation of snake charmers. We have now become mouse-charmers (referring to India’s growth in the computer software development).” Picking up a glass of water, he said an optimist would say the glass is half full, while a pessimist would say it is half empty. "I have a third point of view. For me the glass is always full -- half with water and half with air. We can turn over the situation," he said. Recalling the success story of his state, “We have worked hard to transform Gujarat into one of India’s most developed state. You may have heard about Vibrant Gujarat summit. We worked very hard for it. You read of Vibrant Gujarat Summit but that is held for two days once in two years. Every year, we hold Krishi Mahotsav.” “Gujarat was a desert state, we depend on rains. In the past 10 years, the state has shown 10 % plus growth in agriculture. We are not a poor country. We are rich in natural resources. We just need to utilize them for an equitable growth,” he said.

Narendra Modi And Nitish Kumar: A Tale Of Two Friends

By Premkumar Mani
Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, the chief ministers of Gujarat and Bihar respectively, have, of late, been grabbing the headlines. Not only do their names begin with the same alphabet but they are also members of the same political alliance, NDA. But now, both are at loggerheads. At least it appears so. Very few people know that Nitish Kumar has had a sneaking admiration for Narendra Modi. In fact, I can detect a tinge of camaraderie in their present antagonism. Psychology says that love and hatred are the two sides of the same coin. Their friendship and enmity have got so intermingled that it is difficult to make out one from the other.

I remember an incident. It was the summer of 2004. Lok Sabha results were out and in Bihar, the UPA under the leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav had got a decisive lead. The NDA, led by George-Nitish had been badly mauled. Nitish ji came to my place. He was free and so we talked for hours on everything under the sun. My contention was that the NDA had to bite the dust because of Narendra Modi. Nitish ji was not ready to concede my point. That I was opposed to Modi was quite palpable to him. In a somber and firm voice, Nitish ji said, “Narendra Modi is the new face of the BJP. He comes from a Most Backward Class. He is Ghanchi, a Ghanchi! It is a minority backward caste there. The BJP’s Brahmin lobby is out to defame him. Even Vajpayee has joined its ranks. Modi is a dynamic man. Meet him once and you will become his admirer. He comes from a very poor family. He is extremely simple and very diligent.” Nitish ji appeared to be in a state of trance. He was unstoppable. Then, fondly recalling an occasion when Modi played host to him, he concluded his monologue, “I have become his fan.”

I am surprised how this fan of Modi's has turned his foe. Is this what is called politics? Is all this being done just to grab a share of the Muslim vote bank? Or, is there something more to it? I cannot say what the truth is. At the personal level, I am not in touch with Nitish ji. And surmises are, after all, only surmises. Some say that Nitish Kumar is indirectly helping Narendra Modi by keeping the latter constantly in the news. Who would not like such a friend? Maybe there is some truth in this conjecture but, publicly, Nitish has turned their relations quite bitter. Probably, he is hoping for some big gain. But is that possible? Narendra Modi is BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. Nitish Kumar’s eyes are also set on the same position. This clash of interests has turned friends into foes. What else can be expected in such circumstances?

As far as I remember, in June 2010, just prior to the last Bihar Vidhan Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar had hosted a banquet at his official residence for the delegates of the BJP national executive meeting. However the banquet was cancelled at the last moment quoting an advertisement as an excuse. The said advertisement was inserted by a businessman in many newspapers. It included a photograph of Narendra Modi andNitish Kumar jointly campaigning for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. The businessman wanted to welcome Modi to Bihar with this advertisement. However, Nitish Kumar went into such a tizzy that he even threw normal courtesies to the winds. The monetary aid extended by the Gujarat government for the flood victims of Bihar was also returned. Nitish did not want his close relations with Modi to be made public. The advertiser, probably, did not comprehend that some relations---especially those of love---are best kept private. Making them public is fraught with dangers. And that is what happened. The BJP leaders had to face humiliation. They bore it without demur. They are quite used to it. They had put up with the tantrums of Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh equally without complaint. These are the compulsions of alliance politics. The BJP doesn't mind being humiliated by persons from whom it hopes to benefit. And in this instance, the BJP is dependent on Nitish and not the other way round. In the Presidential elections of 2012, Nitish did not support the BJP’s candidate. He supported the Congress nominee Pranab Mukherjee and was once again patted on the back by the media for his “secularism”. The media did not care to enlighten us as to what secularism had to do with this. Was the BJP-backed Sangma communal? And if not, does the Congress have a monopoly over secularism? Judging from Nitish’s recent posturing, he seems to believe that he is the flag bearer-in-chief of secularism in the country and that the nation’s secular polity would collapse without him. No one even tried to bring the reality to the fore - the reality that Pranab Mukherjee was more a nominee of the Ambanis than of the Congress. An envoy of the Ambani family is an MP from Nitish’s party and he controls the entire party set-up. Those who are patting Nitish Kumar on the back should also remember that Bal Thakeray was also a member of the comity of leaders that supported Pranab Da.

I am not among those who have given a clean chit to Modi in the post-Godhra communal riots or have forgotten Advani's role in the Babri demolition. The 2002 riots in Gujarat were horrible and as chief minister, it was Modi's duty to stop the violence. I hold Modi guilty even today. But, was he alone guilty? At that time, Atal Behari Vaypayee’s government was ruling at the Centre. Why did it not dismiss the Gujarat government? After all, Vajpayee had the precedent of dismissal of a string of state governments after the demolition of the Babri masjid. Just before the riots, the Bihar government was dismissed for the ‘Senari massacre’. The Gujarat riots were much more serious and sinister than ‘Senari massacre’. When the Bihar government could be sacked for one single massacre why couldn't the government of Gujarat be dismissed? Was Modi alone guilty of not following the ‘rajdharma’? What sort of ‘rajdharma’ was Vajpayee following? And Nitish Kumar--who considers Vajpayee a messiah--which ‘rajdharma’ did he follow? It should not be forgotten that Nitish Kumar was the Railways minister when the Godhra train arson took place. Nitish Kumar, who had offered to resign after the Gaisal train mishap did not even care to visit the site of the Godhra tragedy. It is surprising that the same man is now sermonising to Modi and that too regarding riots. The role of both Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar in the Godhra train tragedy is not above reproach. Both of them and subsequently their common political ideal, Atal Bihari Vajpayee,did not fulfill the ‘rajdharma’. Both are publicity-crazy and both are self-anointed ‘Vikash Purush’. As for their achievements, economic inequality had grown in both Bihar and Gujarat. In both the States, the rich have become more powerful while the poor have sunken deeper into misery.

But there are some crucial differences between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi. While Nitish Kumar comes from a kulak Kurmi family of Bihar, Narendra Modi hails from an extremely poor and most backward class Ghanchi family of Gujarat. Nitish's father was an Ayervedic ‘Vaidyaraj’ and a Congress leader while Narendra's father was a small-time tea vendor. Narendra Modi spent his childhood washing the used glasses at his father’s shop when Nitish was studying Engineering, Narendra was the domestic helper in a lawyer family’s home where his responsibilities included cleaning 9 rooms and preparing food for 15 members of the family. He somehow studied and acquired degrees by appearing in exams as private student. Whatever he learned, he learned in the school of hard knocks. He might be associated with rightist politics but his childhood was as full of struggle as that of the Russian writer Maxim Gorky. There is another crucial difference between Narendra and Nitish. Even as a chief minister, the former led a simple life. He maintained a safe distance from sycophants. He also avoided associating himself with tainted persons. All this is not true of Nitish Kumar. He once had a clean image but now he is embroiled in all sorts of controversies. His lifestyle has changed. According to information procured through RTI, he has spent crores of rupees from the state exchequer on his ancestral village and his official residence. He likes to be surrounded by sycophants, criminals and tainted persons. And he is just a bit behind Mayawati in erecting the statues of the members of his clan.

( Premkumar Mani is a leading Hindi writer,thinker and Political activist. Published in FORWARD Press, September,2012) Credits{ The Forward Press