How Narendra Modi tackled 71 questions by the SIT

How Narendra Modi tackled 71 questions by the SIT

The Tehelka magazine on Thursday published what everyone was curious to know — what questions were posed to chief minister Narendra Modi during his interrogation by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) on March 25, 2010, and what his responses were. The details show how Modi resorted to selective facts, evasion, amnesia, outright lies and rhetoric during his questioning.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi appears before SIT

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday appeared before the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning over the 2002 communal riots.



Modi reached the SIT office at noon. This is the first time Modi is being interrogated in a riot case.

An official spokesman said Modi's decision to submit himself for questioning was no setback for the state government. "What setback?" asked spokesman Jai Narayan Vyas.

The SIT issued a notice to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader March 11 seeking his deposition during the week beginning March 21 on the issues raised by Zakia Jaffri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri who was killed in the riots.

Jaffri died along with other residents when a mob set fire to the Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad in the wake of the violence sparked off by a train burning at Godhra that killed 59 Hindu passengers.

Most of those killed in the retaliatory Gujarat violence were Muslims.

Narendra Modi to get US, Canada visa

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is likely to get a Canadian visa adopted soon by the much refused and coveted US visa, diplomatic sources at the greatest level revealed.

This comes in the wake up of the billion dollar relationship which Gujarat, developing from the rate associated with 12 percent, offers struck around companies.

An official spokesman of the CM’s workplace stated, ”At this particular moment we have nothing to say upon the matter.”

Overseas Indians and several business organizations in the United states and Canada happen to be lobbying along with the US State Department that it makes no feeling to refuse credit to Narendra Modi.

It would appear that their own initiatives have borne fruit. An additional group, The Overseas Friends associated with the BJP, have also been making efforts in order to safe the visa for Modi.

Modi’s workplace, however, did not provide any kind of comments when asked about the CM’s journey ideas.

The Congress celebration has been utilizing the refusal associated with the US visa for a long period as a stay with beat Modi with.

Caste conflict in Modi's 'brand Gujarat'

Caste conflict in Modi's 'brand Gujarat'

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The tears haven't dried for Laxmiben even a week after she and 1,200 other Maldharis like her gave up their homes and moved to this transit camp. The Maldharis, a cattle-rearing community in north Gujarat, left their village Zinzuwada unable to cope with the harassment of the upper caste Rajputs. "We were so insecure that till the time our young boys used to return homes, we used to be worried that something untoward would happen to them," said Laxmiben. According to the Maldharis, the Rajputs have been harassing them for years now. But in the past few months the level has escalated from assault on their young children to harassment of women. "The womenfolk who used to go to fetch water from the well or wash clothes used to be harassed by these men, the harassment was too much to be tolerated," said Rachchodbhai. While the district administration is shying away from the camera, it has deployed extra security at Zinzuwada. Security has also been provided around the transit camp in Nagwada. But the Maldharis accuse the local police of turning a blind eye to their complaints in the past. The result: the security now has done little to instill confidence amongst them. For the record though the Rajputs deny harassment. "It's not a big issue, in fact, there have been no clash between the two communities. There are members from Kayashtha community, Maldharis and other communities but there is no problem here," said Udhaysinh Jhala, Sarpanch, Zinzuwada. As the stalemate continues, Laxmiben and her neighbours can only wait and hope that the government will do more than just posture and get them back their homes and their lives.

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

LONDON: England's Cricketers' Association claims that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and the franchises are "bugging players like crazy" to commit participation in the lucrative Twenty20 event but are refusing to acknowledge their security fears.

Professional Cricketers Association ( PCA) director of legal affairs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that "heavens won't fall if international players refuse to come for the Indian Premier League (IPL)", has been "bugging players like crazy" to commit.

Smith, however, said the security situation in India seems better then a few weeks ago but a some concerns still remain.

"The situation is a hell of a lot better than it was a week ago," Smith said.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we can reach a point before the start of the tournament where Reg can say it is safe enough to travel. We are getting closer. Ultimately it comes down to individual players and their individual circumstances," he added.

Smith said the firm handling IPL's security was up to mark but the players' bodies were looking for assurances from the government of India.

"They are excellent guys and it is a good plan. The question is whether the states and the Government can implement it. Have they not signed off because they can't or because they won't? Nobody is prepared to say, 'Yes we can do it'," Smith said.

Smith criticised Modi's refusal to acknowledge players' bodies' concerns.

"It has been a most frustrating period because guys feel thwarted and partly angry because of the way Lalit has chosen to spin it as a political move on our part. We cannot seem to get it into his head that we are genuinely interested in the safety of the players," he fumed.

Meanwhile, Graham Napier left to join Mumbai Indians on Monday, while Kings XI Punjab batsman Ravi Bopara, who had earlier claimed that "cricket is not worth dying for", is scheduled to leave on Tuesday for the tournament starting March 12.

Sachin Tendulkar tops 'trust' list in cricket; Lalit Modi at bottom

Sachin Tendulkar tops 'trust' list in cricket; Lalit Modi at bottom

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar has been named the country's most trusted person in the cricket arena, while IPL chairman Lalit Modi has been ranked at the bottom. In a list of 100 most trusted people compiled by Readers' Digest magazine, Sachin figures at the eighth position -- the highest among people related to cricket and next only to chess champion Viswanathan Anand (overall 6th). In the same list, IPL chairman Lalit Modi, arguably the most controversial cricket administrator, has been ranked 93rd -- the lowest rank for any cricket-related person in the list. About Modi being at the tail-end of its Trusted list, Readers' Digest said "perhaps it's controversy that still stalks Lalit Modi, cricket administrator and chairman of Indian Premier League, who at 93rd position is the only sports personality to feature amongst the trust list's tailenders." While Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, ranked 97th, is also related to the field of cricket in his capacity of Chairman of the BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India), but he's more of a politician. Among people in the list who owe their fame to cricket, Sachin is followed by Team India captain M S Dhoni at 42nd position in the overall list. Last week, master blaster Tendulkar dedicated his record unbeaten knock of 200, scored in the one-dayer against South Africa, to the people of India.

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

airs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that "heavens won't fall if international players refuse to come for the Indian Premier League (IPL)", has been "bugging players like crazy" to commit.

Smith, however, said the security situation in India seems better then a few weeks ago but some concerns still remain.

"The situation is a hell of a lot better than it was a week ago," Smith was quoted as saying by The Times.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we can reach a point before the start of the tournament where Reg can say it is safe enough to travel. We are getting closer. Ultimately it comes down to individual players and their individual circumstances," he added.

Smith said the firm handling IPL's security was up to mark but the players' bodies were looking for assurances from the government of India.

Shahla Muzaffar: Shahla Muzaffar Fears Speaking Against Narendra Modi

Shahla Muzaffar: Shahla Muzaffar Fears Speaking Against Narendra Modi

An graduate of Azamgarh’s Shibli National College girl Shahla Muzaffar is discolored that she has without knowing turn out to be a brand ambassador for the Narendra Modi the Chief Minister of Gujarat state government.

The photograph of Shahla Muzaffar with two course mates, Fauzia Zarin and Fareen Mehmood, appeared in the Gujarat state government’s full-page advertisement claiming that minorities in Gujarat have better educational employment opportunities, more financial stability, health facilities and infrastructure than anywhere else in Patna, Bihar newspapers in the run-up to the Indian political Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)’s national executive meeting in Patna.

In lime light to the courageous Shahla Muzaffar with two course mates, Fauzia Zarin and Fareen Mehmood is shocked after that Gujarat state government’s full-page advertisement in Patna, Bihar newspapers.

The incident and its allegations amidst rumors of a danger discernment from Narendra Modi the Chief Minister of Gujarat state government doing the rounds have to the highest degree distress Shahla Muzaffar with two course mates, Fauzia Zarin and Fareen Mehmood family.

Shahla Muzaffar with two course mates, Fauzia Zarin and Fareen Mehmood said that the ‘‘There have been calls from well-wishers to keep mum and not utter a word against the CM, known for his ruthlessness,’’ but both of three girls voice was scared and insistent.

“The photograph was symbolic” and “Nowhere do we claim that that the photographs are from Gujarat.” defended the ad saying Gujarat information commissioner V Thirupugazh.

Gujarat information commissioner V Thirupugazh also claimed the Gujarat government had no idea what photographs the advertisement agency was going to use but some sources close to Gujarat state government’s chief minister Narendra Modi said the chief minister usually looks at relevant misinformation stuff before it is published in newspapers in Patna.

Shahla Muzaffar already posed for the photograph for a foreign magazine before two years. “The interviewer wanted to play up the empowered image of Muslim girls and we happily cooperated”

India Elections : Preity Zinta praised Narendra Modi

India Elections : Preity Zinta praised Narendra Modi

Bollywood film actress Preity Zinta in her latest interview praised Narendra Modi and said Narendra Modi should become India’s Prime Minister.

Times of India group’s tabloid Mumbai Mirror asked Preity Zinta “Do you plan to enter politics?” Preity replied “More than one party has asked me to stand in the forthcoming elections but I have no interest in politics. Every political party is the same. I am open to supporting someone but not a party. I don’t support Hindu-Muslim politics. I certainly don’t support what happened in Godhra. Even Narendra Modi must have realised this and it won’t happen again. Till last year, I didn’t support Modi but today I support him with all my heart. He should be India’s Prime Minister. Look at how he has administered Gujarat. Every politician has something bad to his name but Modi is one politician who also has something good to his name. If we have five states like Gujarat, India will shine.”

Bihar Elections : Battle to win muslim vote on a highb

Bihar Elections : Battle to win muslim vote on a high

With Bihar Assembly Election knocking at the door, it’s high time for politicians to woo back masses with promises and offers to achieve win in this battle of votes. With 16percent voters residing in Bihar being Muslim, the battle to win over is on a high. Having only four more days at hand, all politicians are at their best form to make their way in the hearts of masses and ensure a sure victory.

This veiled reference by the Prime Minister, to Nitish Kumar and his party’s alliance with the is an attempt to consolidate the Muslim vote behind the party.

For Nitish Kumar, it has been a catch-22 situation. His party’s alliance with the in Bihar almost ended in June this year, over the issue of Narendra Modi trying to gain a footing in Bihar politics, ahead of the ’s national executive meeting in Patna.

Ensuring then Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi have not campaigned for the in Bihar, is seen as a bid by Nitish to keep his Muslim vote-base intact. More recently, the ’s subdued response to the Ayodhya vedict was also seen to be a move with the Bihar elections in mind.

Narendra Modi announces Shah’s resignation, alleges conspiracy

New Delhi, July 24 (Calcutta Tube) Gujarat Minister Amit Shah, allegedly involved in the 2005 staged shootout of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, has resigned, Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced here Saturday while accusing the Congress-led UPA government of ‘misusing’ the CBI and ‘fabricating’ the charges against Shah.

‘Amit Shah has sent his resignation to my bungalow. I will complete the formalities after returning from here. I accept his resignation,’ Modi told reporters here.

Modi, who arrived in the national capital Saturday morning, announced he has accepted Shah’s resignation, adding that Shah was innocent.

‘As per provisions of the constitution, I have accepted his resignation,’ he said.

He alleged that the charges against Shah were part of the Congress-led central government’s ‘conspiracy’ against Gujarat.

‘It is an example of a conspiracy to trouble the development of Gujarat. Amit Shah is totally innocent. The allegations are fabricated and politicised,’ the chief minister said.

Modi said getting the CBI involved in the case was a reaction from a ‘failed’ central government.

‘When the people of India expressed their anger and warned the government in Delhi against price rise in the form of a massive bandh, the Congress-led central government which has failed on all fronts completely politicised the CBI, and misusing it they are trying to create obstacles in the way of Gujarat’s journey to development’ Modi said.

He added that the due legal course will be followed by Shah.

‘Amit Shah will respect the legal system of the country. And I believe the Indian law will give him justice,’ said Modi, who is considered close to Shah.

The CBI mounted a massive search for Shah after naming him an accused with 17 others in the killing of Sheikh, in a chargesheet filed Friday.

Shah has been missing after a court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. He failed to appear before the court after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned him.

Friday’s chargesheet named 18 people, of who only three are yet to be arrested – Shah, Ajay Patel and Yashpal Chudasama. Both Patel and Chudasama are reportedly close to the minister.

All the 15 who are in jail are police personnel. The charges against them include murder, abduction and conspiracy.

They include three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers — D.G. Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandey and Dinesh M.N.

The high-profile case relates to Rajasthan resident Sheikh, who was killed in a Nov 26, 2005 alleged gun battle with police. Police accused him of being a Lashkar-e-Taiba activist. They claimed he had come to Ahmedabad to target senior political leaders. His wife Kausar Bi went missing later.

The dead man’s family alleged that Sheikh and his wife were abducted from a bus and then killed in cold blood near Ahmedabad.

Test cricket will disappear if it doesn't go day-night: Modi

"Twenty20 will become the dominant format - without doubt," Modi predicted.

"It lasts only three hours and people don't have time any more to sit all day watching cricket. We're competing with and other sports and I think three hours is a good time limit to help us expand the market. We are definitely bringing new consumers to cricket," the IPL chief told 'The Guardian'.

According to him, Test cricket's biggest problem is its duration and the only way out is a flood-lit culture.

"I am a great supporter of Test cricket. People say I'm not but I also run the marketing department of the BCCI and Test cricket is extremely important to us. All I am trying to do is remind people that we live in a modern age and Test cricket has a big problem: it is played in the daytime when most people are working," Modi explained.

"We should be embracing every opportunity for getting viewers into watching Tests and the most effective way is making it a day-night game. If you take it to day-night, then people can watch it on TV when they get home from work - or they can go to the stadium," he elaborated.

Asked if that means it would be either floodlight or death for Test cricket, Modi said, "Yes, because the broadcaster won't be interested. Whether we like it or not, broadcasting determines whether a game survives. Without broadcasters you don't have money to pay players or keep the sport alive.

"The five-day game should still be the pinnacle and the ultimate test of skills. You don't need to fiddle with the format at this stage. All you need do is change the timing. If we went day-night then we would see a real resurgence in the ratings. Look at Twenty20. It has gone to night cricket and the viewership has exploded," Modi argued.

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

LONDON: England's Cricketers' Association claims that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and the franchises are "bugging players like crazy" to commit participation in the lucrative Twenty20 event but are refusing to acknowledge their security fears.

Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) director of legal affairs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that "heavens won't fall if international players refuse to come for the Indian Premier League (IPL)", has been "bugging players like crazy" to commit.

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

Modi, IPL franchises bugging England players like crazy: PCA

England's Cricketers' Association claims that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and the franchises are "bugging players like crazy" to commit participation in the lucrative Twenty20 event, but are refusing to acknowledge their security fears. Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) director of legal aff

airs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that "heavens won't fall if international players refuse to come for the Indian Premier League (IPL)", has been "bugging players like crazy" to commit.

Smith, however, said the security situation in India seems better then a few weeks ago but some concerns still remain.

"The situation is a hell of a lot better than it was a week ago," Smith was quoted as saying by The Times.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we can reach a point before the start of the tournament where Reg can say it is safe enough to travel. We are getting closer. Ultimately it comes down to individual players and their individual circumstances," he added.

Smith said the firm handling IPL's security was up to mark but the players' bodies were looking for assurances from the government of India.

Narendra Modi down with swine flu

Gandhinagar, Oct 30 : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is down with swine flu two days after returning from Russia, doctors at a hospital said Friday.

This was confirmed by Atul Patel, the doctor at a government civil hospital on Friday morning.

The chief minister who returned from his three day-visit to Russia on Wednesday worked through Thursday attending his official engagements, despite feeling tired and coughing frequently.

As doctors in attendance checked him, samples were taken to check for the H1N1 virus. By evening, his fever shot up and speculation mounted that he had swine flu.

Following confirmation, Modi has been put under swine flu medication and quarantined at his own official residence here. All his appointments have been cancelled and he will be in isolation for a week.

Reports that the sample of a 60-year-old swine flu suspect - referred to as "VIP" and carrying the name Ramesh - had been sent for tests from Gandhinagar added to the rumours.

Editorial Narendra Modi’s Ploy

Editorial Narendra Modi’s Ploy

With the three judges bench of the Supreme Court conceding to the demand of Sangh Parivar’s senior most lawyer Ram Jethmalani to have a fresh look on the appointment of Special Investigation Team (SIT) for investigating certain specified cases of ghastliest ever communal violence in Gujarat in 2002, a very pernicious plan of the Narendra Modi administration is getting unveiled. After Modi responds to SIT summon, the very mechanism will become redundant for the Sangh Parivar.
There is no doubt that right from the burning of the two bogies of Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002 at Godhra to the ghastliest ever anti-Muslim pogrom that continued for months in almost all districts of Gujarat, every thing was planned and executed by various outfits of the Sangh Parivar with complete support of the police and administration of the state government headed by Narendra Modi. Everything was justified by the Sangh Parivar leaders including the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee quoting the Newton’s law of action and reaction. But the theory of action (Godhra train incident) itself proved to be a hoax. None of the reserved passengers (supposedly Kar Sevaks returning from Ayodhaya) died in the incident. All Kar Sevaks had detrained at Godhra before the burning incident took place. Those burnt alive were unreserved passengers. ( Mamata Banerjee who now a days misses no opportunity to shed tears on any issue related with Muslims may kindly go through the report on Godhra incident conducted by Railway ministry as well as the list of those reserved passengers who were travelling in the two bogies and were found alive when railways wanted to pay compensation).
The Modi administration not only presided over the massacre of Muslims in the post-Godhra violence, it manipulated the judicial process as well to protect the perpetrators of the violence. The way cases related with burning of a Vadodara bakery and Zaheera Sheikh were manipulated, it became obvious that till Narendra Modi is at the helm of affairs in Gujarat nobody will be punished and whole thing will be hushed up. In such a situation, a few social\activists approached the Supreme Court and pleaded that the crucial cases of Gujarat riots be transferred outside the state. Two cases were conducted in Maharashtra.
It was found that as the investigation is being conducted (or manipulated) by police under Modi administration, there could be no proper prosecution even in courts outside Gujarat. Hence demand for a SIT appointed by the Supreme was raised and conceded by the Apex Court. But the recent events indicate that the Sangh Parivar is even manipulating the SIT to its advantage. Even summoning of Modi by the SIT seems to be stage-managed. It is an attempt to provide a plateform to Modi to get many of the "doubts" cleared about his role in the riots. BJP new chief, under RSS instructions had started openly projecting Modi as a leader with enough potential for becoming the Prime Minister.
The very composition of the SIT has been questioned since day one. The six-member team includes three IPS officers of Gujarat cadre who are still working under the Modi administration. It includes Geeta Johri, currently Commissioner of Police Rajkot. She was pulled up by the Supreme Court for shoddy investigations into the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter. Another member is Shivanand Jha, Additional DGP and Commissioner of Police, Surat. He was Commissioner of Police in Ahmadabad during the communal violence. Then there is Aashis Bhatia who had been accused of producing distorted statements from prosecution witnesses in several riot related cases. He is currently IGP posted in Ahmadabad.
With these three IPS officers on SIT, one could understand what the game plan behind summoning of Modi is. The RSS boys including Gadkari are repeatedly saying that Modi will abide by law and respond to the SIT summon. This occasion will be used to get Modi "cleared" as well as to re-assert the Sangh Parivar’s theory that no more investigations be carried out in Gujarat riots as it revives the wounds.
The choice of the case for summoning Modi is also interesting. He has been summoned in relation to investigation of Gulmarg Society killing incidents in which former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was among those murdered by the RSS hordes. So far, SIT had not dug up any evidence that could go against Modi personally. If the SIT really wanted to pin down Modi and his colleagues, it should have taken up the case of Naroda Patia massacre. There is enough call records establishing that the RSS-BJP leaders involved in this massacre were in direct contact with chief minister’s office.
The way pro-RSS pen-pushers and propagandists in the Media are playing up the summoning of Modi by SIT, it seems the idea is to get a "clean chit" from a Supreme Court appointed outfit for a person whom RSS is planning to project as Prime-Ministerial candidate. Secular forces can ignore this ploy on their peril.

CPI Demands General Amnesty for Kashmiri Youth
CPI state secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Kanwal Dev in a press conference issued the following statements on February 28, 2010:
While reviewing the policy of surrender and rehabilitation of Kashmiri youth crossing to PoK to undergo terror training for subversive activities is acceptable in principle, the CPI opines that refugees of PoK who had been drifted from their hearths and homes to this part of the state may be facilitated smooth return to their homes. They shall be permitted to occupy their ancestral properties in PoK. The process to grant general amnesty to Kashmiri youth and rehabilitation of PoK refugees must take place simultaneously. CPI takes this step in its resolve to settle this very political issue taking all pros and cons into consideration.
Further regarding bilateral talks to be held in the near future the party welcomes this initiative taken. The process of talks shall continue at various political levels. It is more important that mutual trust between both the neighbouring countries is strengthened and fruitful and result-oriented opportunities are created for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Others who attended the press conference were: A. R. Tukroo, Rakesh Sharma, M. Das, Naresh Munshi and Amarjeet Singh.


FRONT PAGE
People’s March Warns Govt Against Price Rise
Call for Jail Bharo on April 8
C. Adhikesavan
Thousands of enthusiastic activists of Left parties hit the Delhi streets on March 12, 2010 to protest against price rise with its leaders announcing observation of Satyagraha-jail bharo on April 8 demanding immediate action on the issue.
The massive rally marched from Ramlila Maidan to Jantar Mantar demanding action from the government to bring down the prices of essential commodities and roll back petroleum products price hike.
The Parliament Street stretch from the Sardar Patel roundabout towards Rajiv Chowk was awash with red flags, banners, placard and buntings displaying anti-government slogans. The rally culminated at Jantar Mantar winding through a corridor connecting the Ram Lila Grounds to somewhere close to Parliament. From the beginning to the end of the march, the participants raised sky-renting and spirited slogans against the anti-people policies of the government.
The ‘March to Parliament’ led by the four Left parties – Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India CPI(M), Forward Bloc and RSP was one of the biggest since the 1990s. However it was only a beginning as the leaders asserted, since the campaigns and struggles were going to be further intensified in the coming days.
The leaders of the Left parties, while addressing the rally, announced that there would be countrywide mass picketing and ‘court arrest’ programmes outside Central government offices in all district headquarters on April 8. In the militant jail bharo on April 8 across the country, they declared that they would defy the laws at various places to emphasise their demands.
Some 25 lakh people will take part in the programme demanding immediate steps to curb price rise and for strengthening of the Public Distribution System (PDS), which suffers from large scale food grain diversion as well as corruption because of unsolicited political interference as well as black marketing by fair price shop dealers. There will also be demands raised for implementation of land reforms and creation of employment opportunities.
The meeting was addressed by CPI general secretary A. B. Bardhan, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas, RSP general secretary T. J. Chandrachoodan, CPI Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta and CPI(M) Parliamentary Party leader Sitaram Yechury. At the massive rally, charging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with favouring the capitalists, A. B. Bardhan said Dr. Singh had been extending both support and benefits to the corporate sector. He alleged that the prime minister had become a “broker of capitalists”.
He stressed that the government must take steps to control price rise, ensure right to food and health and strengthen public distribution system among others. The UPA government that came to power promising to work for the ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) had jettisoned the approach to favour the rich and corporate sector, he said.
Bardhan said Left parties would move a cut motion when the Finance Bill was taken up for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, demanding a rollback of duties on petroleum products announced in the Union budget.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said: “The government has failed in controlling prices…it is shirking responsibility putting the blame on state governments. The April 8 agitation will be the biggest mass movement…if the government does not listen we will work against it during the remainder of the budget session.”
“The corporate sector has been given concessions worth Rs. 80,000 crore while it imposed Rs. 60,000 by way of indirect taxes on the working class, and only a meagre Rs. 1000 crore had been given as unemployment allowance to the jobless youth,” AITUC general secretary and member of Parliament Gurudas Dasgupta said.
Abani Roy (RSP) warned of disorder if ‘aam aadmi’ fails to get foodgrain. “If the government fails to provide foodgrains to all, it means it is inefficient and there is a need to change this government,” he said.
The Left agitation in the capital against price rise had its echo in Parliament on March 12 with members of four Left parties along with TDP and SP walking out of both the Houses protesting the government’s “lack of response” to their demand for a white paper on the issue. The Left parties have intensified their crusade against the Congress-led UPA government. In Lok Sabha BJP, RJD, BSP and BJD have extended their support to the Left parties.
Supporting these demands, D Raja, CPI national council secretary and member of Parliament, said in the house that while UPA-II talks about food security, it has been in fact slashing subsidies on food and fertilisers.
Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, Gurudas Dasgupta said, the Left parties have raised the matter a number of times in the House, but there has been no response from the government and the prices have continued to rise. He said,’We demand that the government come out with a white paper and take action to check the rising prices.’
In a two-pronged strategy, the Left attacked both the UPA government at the Centre as well its main rival in West Bengal — Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. The Left leaders pointed out while talking about the achievements of Left Front in West Bengal that it was the first state to give 10 per cent job quota to Muslims.
Meanwhile, since the Congress government has made it clear that there would be no rollback on the recent increase in fuel prices, there would be further increase in the intensity of the struggle of the opposition parties in future because:
Inflation has almost hit double figures since February, raising expectations that the central bank will hike interest rates next month.
Prices of fuel, rubber, plastic and cement have jumped during the month, as the economy accelerated out of last year’s downturn.
Annual inflation as measured by the wholesale price index, or WPI, rose to a 16-month high of 9.89 percent from 8.56 percent in January.
Food prices, accelerating after the country’s worst monsoon in nearly four decades last year, rocketed upto 17.79 percent, putting pressure on the government, which has been under attack from the opposition over the cost of living.
The RBI will have to act. There would be higher fuel and commodity prices. It has estimated that inflation will be 8.5 percent by the end of the current financial year this month.

Narendra Modi featured as the ‘Author in Focus’ by Ameya Prakashan

Ameya Prakashan is a well established publishing house for the best inspirational books which are rich in content by inspirational authors, creatively designed, attractively packaged and produced with the latest technology in the field of printing.

Sep 19, 2009 – Ameya Prakashan is a well established publishing house for the best inspirational books which are rich in content by inspirational authors, creatively designed, attractively packaged and produced with the latest technology in the field of printing.

The house has featured many inspirational authors who motivates and inspire readers, and society at large, with the success stories of men and women who rose from anonymity to make a name for themselves in their sphere.

One such author which has attempted to pen his experience with ordinary worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mr. Narendra Modi, CM of the state Gujarat, brings out the real hero of the real world through his book JyotiPunj, debunking many myths about the Sangh. The book reflects extraordinary works of ordinary people.
Passionate and progressive, a poet at heart and an author of a few books and tech-savvy, Mr. Narendra Modi is one of the most responsive political leaders in India. Modi’s model of good governance is being applauded within the country and beyond. The way he has won the hearts of people of Gujarat and his popularity at the national level show that ‘Good governance is also good politics’
Ameya Prakashan has contributed a small part towards the noble cause of spreading inspirations to its Marathi readers by translating the book in Marathi by Ravindra Dani. The book is now available online and one can also download the contents through its official website ameyaprakashan.com
Being the pioneers of publishing autobiographies electronically, Ulhas Latkar has always made sure the website gets all that it needs to keep up with the hi-tech generation. Blogging, youtube, free downloading and services like buying books online are some of the interesting features added to the website to help the readers to involve themselves completely with all the events and activities held by the house.

For more information on book title, other authors and their books visit the website

Ameya is a reputed book publishing company. Ameya has its antecedents in the printing and publishing business. It began operations 40 years ago as a printing press. The second-generation entrepreneurship led by Ulhas Latkar, a mechanical engineer by education has propelled its expansion into a full-fledged publishing company in 1993.

When Narendra Modi Halted a Cricket Match...

When Narendra Modi Halted a Cricket Match...

What happened when the chief minister of the state decided to put himself directly behind the bowlers’ arm? Why, it stops the match of course!
The first of seven one day internationals between India and England was not without its dignitaries. The chief amongst these was Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, who in company of Niranjan Shah, the former secretary of the BCCI.
Shah should have known better. The politician may have wanted to the best viewing angle of the match; but the cricket administrator should have been smart enough to advise him that the seats adjacent to the sight screen was not the most ideal, for the batsmen that is.
As it happened, while Modi cut a smiling, content picture, the England batsmen were not amused. Not only were they up against an uphill, virtually impossible battle, now they had to deal with Modi’s exhaustive entourage that kept spilling over bang in front of the sight screen.
This follows just after Matthew Hayden has gone back home complaining of similar incidents in “third world countries” that impeded batsmen from foreign countries.

Remember the article from a day ago that asked to report any such incident happening in a foreign country, sadly the first such incident has again happened in India.
Tut! Tut! We should have known better.

NGO wants Narendra Modi to file affidavit before Nanavati panel

She submitted that number of accused like Jaydeep Patel, Maya Kodnani, were in contact with the Modi's office, which is established by phone call records.

Also, there were as many as 15 phone calls from CM's office to the then police commissioner P C Pande on February 28, 2002, Setalvad said.

"Therefore, Modi should, if not be called, be compelled to file an affidavit before Commission, explaining his role during the post-Godhra riots," she submitted.

Setalvad also submitted that the police control room records during the period of riots have been destroyed and an inquiry needs to be held in this matter.

She also requested affidavits from Pande, the then DGP K Chakravarti, JCP M K Tandon, DCP P B Pondia, Former Chief Secretary Subha Rao, Former Health Minister Ashok Bhatt, Former Urban Development Minister I K Jadeja, ex-MoS Home Govardhan Jhadafiya, and other BJP leaders.

Narendra Modi urges Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to assist violence-hit expats in Kenya

Narendra Modi urges Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to assist violence-hit expats in Kenya

Ahmedabad, Jan 2: Expressing concern over attacks on Gujarati expatriates in Kenya, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to ensure their safety in that country.

Modi has asked Dr. Singh to take up the issue with the Kenyan Government to ensure safety of Gujaratis in Kenya.

In his letter, Modi voiced concern over the safety of about 400 Gujaratis who have taken shelter in a Swaminarayan temple in Kisumu, a town located in Western part of Kenya.

"I request the Indian Government to immediately beef up security for our Indian brothers in Kenya. Indian youth in Kenya who want to return should be brought back, and if required through the sea route or they should be taken to Nirobi and arrangements made for their stay there. Since their houses have been burnt, missing documents must be overlooked and they should be allowed to move to safer areas without any hitch, keeping in mind their Indian blood," said Modi.

Ever since post-election riots broke out in Kenya, the Gujarati diaspora has been living in fear.

Hundreds of Gujarati businessmen have taken shelter in a temple in the Kenyan town of Kisumu after the violence.

Offices and factories belonging to Gujaratis had been looted and their houses attacked by residents.

With defeated Kenyan presidential challenger Raila Odinga sticking to his guns after an allegedly rigged election and freshly re-elected President Mwai Kibaki vowing to assert his authority, the east African nation is locked in a crippling crisis.

Scores of people were killed and several thousand have fled after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner in a disputed election. The estimated death toll has risen to about 250 till today.

Police beat protesters and flushed looters out of buildings in Nairobi's Kibera slum, which is within opposition leader Raila Odinga's constituency.

Kenyan opposition supporters burnt houses in Nairobi's Korogocho slum as police fired teargas and shots in the air to disperse the crowd.

Much of the fighting pitched Luos, who support opposition leader Raila Odinga, against Kibaki's ethnic Kikuyu group.

There are about 43,000 Gujaratis in Nairobi and about 3,000 in Kisumu. (ANI)

Gujarat leader Narendra Modi grilled for 10 hours at massacre inquiry

Narendra Modi, the chief minister of the state of Gujarat and one of the most controversial figures in Indian politics, has faced investigators to defend his actions during communal riots and massacres in his state eight years ago.

Modi, a rising star in the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), is accused of deliberately or negligently allowing rioters in Ahmedabad in February 2002 to murder more than a thousand people. The violence followed the deaths of dozens of Hindu extremist political activists in a fire on a train. Nearly 800 Muslims and more than 250 Hindus died in the ensuing breakdown of public order.

The unprecedented appearance of Modi before the inquiry in the state capital, Gandhinagar, on Saturday dominated headlines across India today.

Campaigners said however there was “one law” for those to blame for the riots and “no law for the victims”.

“We have been trying for eight years to get justice for the victims and have not yet succeeded. At the current moment I cannot be optimistic,” said Mukul Sinha, a lawyer and activist.

Campaigners were incensed that Modi joined the chief justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, at a ceremony at the Gujarat National Law University today.

The children of the former MP Ahsan Jafri, who was allegedly burned to death during the riots after making a series of calls to Modi pleading in vain for police to be sent to protect him against a mob, had appealed to Balakrishnan to withdraw .

Modi said his presence before the inquiry team was “the best answer” to his critics. “Under the Indian constitution, law is supreme … I am bound by the constitution and law,” he said.

In a letter to “my countrymen” published on his official website Modi accused “a nexus among the vested interests in spreading lies”. He wrote: “This machination has come unstuck and the people have seen through this charade.”

The inquiry, which questioned Modi for 10 hours, will submit a report to the supreme court, which could decide to list Modi as a defendant in one of many pending criminal cases linked to the riots.

Mahesh Jethmalani, Modi’s lawyer, said charges against his client were “absurd”.

“The idea that all the riots were premeditated is without any evidence whatsoever. It is 300 Hindus [on the train] who were attacked first,” Jethmalani said.

Modi, 59, has won successive elections to become the longest-serving chief minister of his state and is one of the BJP’s most successful politicians.

The reaction of his party colleagues has been restrained in recent days, however.

Having ridden to power in the 1990s on a wave of resurgent Hindu nationalism and middle-class expansion, the BJP, currently in opposition, did worse than expected in last year’s general election and is seeking to moderate its image. A report cited Modi’s high profile and status as a potential prime ministerial candidate as a factor in the defeat.

Nirmala Seetharaman, a BJP spokeswoman, denied suggestions that Modi’s appearance before the inquiry was an embarrassment for the party.

Senior American Congress member calls on Narendra Modi

Senior American Congress member calls on Narendra Modi

Senior member of American Congress Mr. ENI F H Faleomaveaga today paid courtesy call to Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

He handed over to Shri Modi a letter signed by eight senior representatives of Congress and an authorized document of the speech he gave during one of the Congress session. As a part of preparation for the forthcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit-2011, a high-level delegation from Gujarat took a tour to Washington and met Mr.Faleomaveaga.

During his one hour meet, Mr.Faleomaveaga praised Shri Modi’s commitment for progress and his efforts for developing economic relationship between India and USA.

Chief Minister gave a memento of ‘Shashwat Gandhi’ to Mr. Faleomaveaga, who is also a strong believer of Gandhian values.

The senior Congress member wished all success to the fifth Global Summit and said he would work for developing further co-operation between America and India during the Summit. As a strong supporter of Gujarat’s progress, he reiterated his resolve to explore areas of co-operation between Gujarat and America during the hour-long meeting with the Chief Minister.

Prominent among those present during the discussion with the American delegation included Principal Energy Secretary Jagdish Pandian, Principal Finance Secretary M. Shrivastava and Chief Minister’s Secretary A. K. Sharma. Mr. Faleomaveaga was also impressed by the video presentation of Gujarat’s accomplishments in the modern times.

Modi proves a hit in London, overrides criticism Vijay Dutt

Modi proves a hit in London, overrides criticism
Vijay Dutt


The Gujarati community in Britain that calls him Chhota Sardar, is apparently confident of the rise and rise of Narendra Modi and he did not disappoint his admirers when he spoke most eloquently at the Wembley Conference Hall in the style reminiscent of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Modi is currently in London to promote "Vibrant Gujarat Initiative" for attracting global investors in the state.

The Wembley meeting organised by the Friends of Gujarat proved to be the ideal forum for the Gujarat Chief Minister to talk of the strengths and development of his state and the role he wished the Gujaratis the world over would play in making Gujarat level up with "the most progressive states in the world of the 21st century".

In apparently a very spirited mood and least affected by 200 odd demonstrators shouting slogan and waving placards that named him Idi" Amin" and "butcher of Gujarat", Modi drew rounds of prolonged cheering from a highly enthused 3000 strong audience.

Gujarat Assembly Election 2007 BJP wins with a comfortable majority View final results position

Gujarat Assembly Election 2007
BJP wins with a comfortable majority
View final results position

Narendra Modi is the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was born on September 17, 1950 in Mehsana, Gujarat.

Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar and graduated in Political Science from Gujarat University. He was the student leader of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (All India Students Council).

His political career started after he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization in 1967. He was involved in the “Nav Nirman” (Reconstruction) movement. He joined the Bhartiya Janata Party in 1980. He was appointed as the General Secretary of the Gujarat State BJP unit in 1988. He became the Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001.

He led the BJP to win the 2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections with 126 seats in the 182-member assembly. He was appointed again as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on December 22, 2002.

BJP led by Narendra Modi won 117 out of 182 seats in the 2007 Gujarat Legislative Assembly Elections. He became the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the third time on December 25, 2007.

Myth 15: Narendra Modi gave free hand to rioters for 3 days

Myth 15: Narendra Modi gave free hand to rioters for 3 days

Fact: This much-repeated nonsensical allegation is baseless. Narendra Modi frantically called the Army units to Ahmedabad on February 28- as per the report of The Hindu the next day. India Today weekly’s report ‘Chronology of a Crisis’ on this topic in its issue dated 18 March 2002 also proves this beyond doubt.

The full details of the steps taken by the Gujarat Government to control violence can be read in this article:

The fact is- that the Army staged a flag march in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Godhra on 1st March- i.e. the 2nd day. So there was no question of giving anyone a free hand. The blatant lie was repeated many times in the media. The TV channel CNN-IBN on its Hindi channel reported on 26 October 2007- by writing on TV screens- “There was given 3 days time to kill in Gujarat”. The fact is- out of the 3 days- the Army was present in 2 days- and the extent of violence was far less as compared to the first day. The Hindu itself reported on 3rd March 2002- that the situation improved in Ahmedabad on 2nd March- i.e. the 3rd day of the riots.

Moreover-there was already a minority backlash on the 2nd day of the riots- i.e. on 1st March the Muslims started a backlash in Ahmedabad- as reported by The Hindu the next day. The question of the next two days does not arise- even on February 28- when the Army was not present- the police shot dead 10 Hindus in Ahmedabad alone- and 26 were injured. The police fired around 1,000 rounds- out of which 600 were fired in Ahmedabad alone-on February 28. Police saved 2500 Muslims from certain death in Sanjeli- a town in North Gujarat on 1st March 2002- i.e. the 2nd day of the riots.

Narendra Modi did not even give 3 minutes- not to talk of 3 days to the rioters. He had ordered 827 preventive arrests on February 27 itself- and given shoot-at-sight at Godhra on February 27 itself at 9:45 AM- only 2 hours after the Godhra carnage. The entire police force was deployed in Gujarat in view of apprehension that riots might break out on February 27 itself. The Rapid Action Force was deployed in Ahmedabad and other sensitive areas and the Centre sent in CRPF personnel-on February 27 itself! All this was reported by various English newspapers-like The Indian Express, The Times of India, The Tribune, The Hindustan Times etc the next day- i.e. 28 February.

To see the report- click on the link-

The Tribune’s report can be read on-

Also- Defence Minister George Fernandes was in Ahmedabad on 1st March at 1:00 AM on Narendra Modi’s request. And the next day- he was bravely on Ahmedabad’s streets at a great risk to personal life. If Modi gave a free hand for 3 days- then why did he call George Fernandes?

On Feb 27 itself- www.rediff.com reported- “The situation became tense as news of the incident spread to other parts of the state prompting the state government to initiate precautionary security measures. Security has been tightened in Godhra and other parts of Gujarat.”
The Link for this report is:

Rediff.com also reported quoting PTI on Feb 28 evening that-“The army has been asked to stand by and the Rapid Action Force and the Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed in Ahmedabad and other places.”
The link for this report is-

Rediff.com reported on Feb 27 itself- after Godhra that- “Two companies of the Rapid Action Force and one company of the State Reserve Police were deployed at Godhra to guard against further outbreak of violence.”
The link for the report:
On Feb 28- curfew was imposed in Baroda at 8 Am in the morning itself- as reported by rediff.com the same day. The report says-

“Indefinite curfew was imposed in the city from 0800 hours following the stabbing incidents, a senior police official said.

Curfew had been imposed in the six police station areas of the walled city (i.e. Ahmedabad) and RAF and CISF companies have been deployed in sensitive areas, Police Commissioner Deen Dayal Tuteja said.

Indefinite curfew has also been imposed in Lunawada town of Panchmahal district after 0200 hours on Wednesday night following incidents of arson and looting, he said.

Meanwhile, indefinite curfew, imposed in Godhra town after the attack on the train on Wednesday, continued on Thursday without any relaxation.

No untoward incident was reported during the curfew so far, police said.

The situation had remained peaceful and under control in other parts of the state during the night, police said.”

On the 2nd day of the riots- Shoot-at-sight orders were extended to Ahmedabad as well. The report of rediff.com on 1st March 2002 was-

“Alarmed by the unabated incidents of violence in the city, the Gujarat government on Friday issued shoot-at-sight orders to the police against those indulging in arson and violence.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, official sources said. Modi has issued directives to the police to deal ’strictly with arsonists and if need be shoot-at-sight any person indulging in rioting’, they added.

Meanwhile, the army staged flag marches in the violence-hit areas of Ahmedabad - Daraipur, Shahpur, Shahibaug and Naroda - to instill confidence among the people as unabated violence has claimed 111 lives in the city alone so far.

The army personnel were out in different areas like Daraipur, Shahpur, Shahibaug and Naroda, police said.”

In chapter 2 we have already seen the reports of The Hindu and The Indian Express to know the steps taken by the Gujarat government to curb the violence. The Telegraph-published from Kolkata also reported on 1st March 2002-

“ (On Feb 28) The Vajpayee government, alarmed that law and order were spiralling out of control, ordered deployment of the army in the state. The army has already begun pre-deployment drills in violence-scarred areas and will be out latest by tomorrow morning. Defence minister George Fernandes is travelling to Gujarat tomorrow…Curfew was clamped in 26 towns… “There is a fire inside us. Our blood is boiling,” Mangalben, a woman from Dariapur, said. “What is the fault of those children who died? There is a volcano of anger.”

In other words-there was a volcano of anger among the masses- whose blood was boiling after the Muslims brutally roasted 59 kar sewaks including 15 children in Godhra. On the events of 1st March 2002- The Telegraph reported in its issue dated 2nd March-

“A funeral procession cast away its veil of mourning and exploded into a mob of killers, torching houses inside which the pursued were huddled. Official sources said eight people died in the incident, but unofficial estimates put the toll at above 30.

An agency report suggested vengeance for the death of three persons earlier in the day as the motive for the attack at Pandarwada, 70 km from Godhra….

Despite the presence of the army — some 3,500 soldiers have arrived in the state — in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, the rioting has not stopped.”

And they say that Narendra Modi gave 3 days to the rioters to kill! They demand that the BJP and Narendra Modi should ‘apologize’ for the Gujarat riots. They should realize and so also the BJP spokespersons who come on TV and miserably fail to point out the truth- that it is not Narendra Modi who should apologize- but the entire media- for lying and lying, exaggerating, defaming Narendra Modi. The media can be tried under Section 153-A (Creating enmity between two groups)- because of its one-sided reporting- and Section 500 of IPC- (Defaming)- for needlessly defaming BJP, Sangh Parivar and Narendra Modi- and also tarnishing the image of India.

This tale of lies and myths is unending. It can go on and on and on. We will, however, need to conclude this chapter here itself. An enterprising writer would do well to compile an encyclopedia of these media lies on the entire Gujarat scenario. He can start with media lies on Godhra, on concocting imaginary ‘provocations’ for Godhra, the lies concocted on the post-Godhra riots-such as the extent of the riots, the number of people killed, the imaginary tales and stories of unnamed victims, the rapes and murders of innocent people, etc etc. And he can conclude with the media’s malicious reporting during the Gujarat Assembly elections of December 2002 when the media was the Congress’ pillar and tried to defeat the BJP. The BJP, which suffers the maximum damage from these lies, has unwisely allowed the media to escape the courts for one-sided, malicious lies.

Narendra Modi sworn in as CM of Gujarat for third time (Also watch)

Narendra Modi sworn in as CM of Gujarat for third time (Also watch)

Today, it was double celebration for BJP as first it was the birthday of formal Prime Minister of India and senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee and second Narendra Modi sworn in as CM of Gujarat for the third time. This whole ceremony took place at Sardar Patel Stadium in the heart of Ahmadabad. This oath taking ceremony is attended by number of senior BJP leaders like LK Advani, Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and lakhs of Modi supporters and BJP workers. Narendra Modi won the Gujarat election battle by getting a huge majority of 117 seats in recently held Gujarat election. This time Narendra Modi is believed to be emerged as stronger leader and there are many chances that his influence will also increase in the national politics too. So far, Narendra Modi has shown his commitment for the growth of Gujarat and he wants to celebrate the golden jubilee celebration of Gujarat with full enthusiasm in 2010. People of Gujarat have shown lot of trust on the Narendra Modi and therefore, we can hope that he work even more his previous term for the welfare of people of Gujarat.

Watch the video Oath ceremony of Narendra Modi

Viqaruddin Wanted to kill Narendra Modi, and He was Very Close

Viqaruddin Wanted to kill Narendra Modi, and He was Very Close

Ahmedabad : According to reports coming in through Hyderabad Police sources, Viqaruddin, a terrorist arrested by Hyderabad Police has confessed during interrogation that last year(2009) he wanted to kill Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and in one of the functions in Ahmedabad, he was very close. He also had minor weapon at that time.

Viqaruddin has reportedly confessed that when Ramol Police station’s inaugural function was held last year in Ahmedabad, he was present in same function to kill Narendra Modi using minor weapon. However looking at the National Security Guards and Modi’s tight security cover, he dropped his idea to kill Modi with minor weapon. He decided to get equipped with AK-47. He also managed to make an identity card of journalist to get closer to Modi. Viqaruddin has reportedly confessed that he had prepared maps and details of the area and also gathered details about some BJP, RSS leaders and VHP bigwig Shri Praveen Togadia.

Narendra Modi Draws a Crowd in Mumbai

If there were ever a doubt about Narendra Modi’s pulling power among businessmen, consider this: So many showed up at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Mumbai Wednesday for a Gujarat promotion event featuring the state’s chief minister that some had to watch it on video from another room and others had to wait in massive lines for lunch—and frequently reached the front of the line only to be met by empty serving dishes.

Reuters

Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, left, and Gujarat’s chief minister Narendra Modi, right, inaugurated the Tata Nano plant at Sanand, Gujarat, in June.

As the ever-gracious Taj staff rushed to refill the daal, paneer and assortment of pastries, the river of businessmen kept flowing. Almost twice the 250 expected at the event showed up, organizers said. Invitees were promised the chance to hear Mr. Modi’s address and stay afterward to talk business with his top lieutenants.

So many came that they couldn’t fit into the 250 seats set up in the Crystal Room and the overflow crowd of 200 had to watch Mr. Modi extol the virtues of Gujarat over video in another room. The state has developed a reputation for being able to do what most other regions of India cannot—streamline the process of setting up industries so they can rapidly build and expand. When the Tata Group ran into trouble building its Nano compact car manufacturing plant in West Bengal state two years ago, the company found a ready home in Gujarat.

Mr. Modi, addressing the audience intermittently in both English and Hindi, apologized to those who had to watch him on television, noting that interest in the western coastal state of Gujarat was at fever pitch compared to 2005, when only 80 people showed up at the first Mumbai event organized as a prelude to what has become a biennial business summit in Gujarat. The next one is scheduled to be held in January.

The state of Gujarat has been running a high profile media campaign called “Vibrant Gujarat,” showcasing the state as being the most business friendly in India. The state has hired a public relations firm, APCO Worldwide, with 50 people dedicated to promoting Gujarat as a business destination, company officials said.

Perhaps it was a sign of Mr. Modi’s national political ambition that he cast himself as not only looking out for Gujarat’s business interests—but also India’s.

Lapsing into Hindi, he said that he had been focusing his efforts on Gujarat but he wanted the entire country to benefit also from the summit. So he was inviting all states in India to attend the summit and he would help make business deals that would benefit them as well.

Then he returned to touting Gujarat, saying: “If you want to be with the times, you must be in Gujarat. If you want to be ahead of the times, you must be in Gujarat.”

“I am Narendra Modi’s Wife”

She is clad in an ill-fitting blouse and a mod­est printed sari. Somewhat stooped, her face is wrinkled, her hands have obviously seen hard times and her hair is pulled back in a tight bun, making her look severe. Dirt grips the cracks of her slipper-clad feet. She could have been any woman in Rajosana village, Gujarat. But then, she is Jashodaben Chimanlal Modi. Everyone in this village knows her as Narendra Modi’s wife.

After the post-Godhra Gujarat riots, Modi’s po­litical foes in Banaskantha district discovered her in this dusty village. Since then, Jashodaben has lived her life under intense scrutiny. Few among the 2,500 villagers, predominantly Muslim, dis­believe her story. Even Modi has neither con­firmed nor denied her muted claim. At the time of going to press, a faxed request for a comment was not returned by Modi’s office.

People close to her say that she was married to Modi in his native village, Vadnagar, in Mehsana district, when she was 18. At the time of her mar­riage, she had studied only up to Class VII. That is believed to have put a strain on their marriage. (Also, according to a villager, Jashodaben does not like to be photographed as she believes she is not good looking.) A few days after the mar­riage, Jashodaben was sent back to her father Chimanlal’s house to complete her education. As those who know her say, in a bid to please her husband and measure up to his exacting stand­ards, she started studying in Dholaka and com­pleted her SSC (old pattern) in 1972. Then she completed a primary teachers course and worked in Ahmedabad for three months.

Subsequently, on 23 March 1978, Jashodaben joined a primary school in Dekwali village in Banaskantha district. She was later transferred to the District Panchayat School in Roopal village where she worked for 12 years. On 2 December 1991, she came to Rajosana village, where she currently lives. Villagers say that though she has been to Ahmedabad occasionally, she was never asked to stay on by her husband.

Jashodaben, a first standard teacher at the Rajosana Primary School, is very popular among her Muslim students. Muslim women in the vil­lage, none of whom were willing to be quoted, say that Modi’s estranged wife is shaping the per­sonalities of Muslim children through her dili­gence as a teacher. They seem to like her. But the 57-year-old will be retiring in October.

“Narendrabhai Modi is a national leader. He is intelligent and good looking. Jashodaben may not be able to match him. But she is his wife; he has married her. He must take her back to live with him,” says a village elder.

When I met her at the school, Jashodaben was as excited as a child and could not stop smiling. She expressed a desire to talk and tell her tale. But the principal of the school, Pravinkumar P Vyas, admonished her for talking to a journalist. “You will only talk to them after school hours. Now go back to your class,” Vyas told her.

She pleaded, “Can I talk to her during the break? It will only take a few minutes.” But the principal was unrelenting.

She left the room meekly, only to come back soon. She said,“I will not say anything against my husband. He is very powerful. This job is all I have to survive. I am afraid of the consequences.” She then went back to her classroom.

Meanwhile, the principal had made a call from his mobile phone to inform somebody that Jashodaben had visitors. He then went to meet her in her classroom. After that, she became a dif­ferent person. She smiled no more, her excite­ment was gone and she looked nervous. She kept wringing her hands. When I approached her again, she screamed, asking to be left alone. But as she walked away, she gestured to suggest that she would talk later.

Later, some men visited the school, one after the other, in different vehicles. They parked their vehicles within the school premises, and looked directly into the principal’s office. After a while, they left. When the school day came to an end, Jashodaben almost ran out to a waiting autorick­shaw. She pointed at me and told some villagers that I was harassing her.

Hiding her face in her hands, she went to her brother’s house in her maternal village in Brahamanwada, about 20 km away. A few min­utes later, a young man who identified himself as Prakashbhai, a reporter from Ram Setu (a two-page government-run newspaper printed with inconsistent frequency), approached me and asked me to leave the village. By then a sizeable crowd had gathered around us.

Though Jashodaben earns a monthly salary of Rs 10,000, she lives in a one-room tenement in the Panchalvas area in the village, and pays a rent of Rs 150 every month. The 100 sq ft room has a tin roof, no toilets, and not even a bathroom. The tap is located outside the house. According to the vil­lagers, Jashodaben wakes up very early and takes a bath outside the house.

Despite the fact that she can afford a better life, she has chosen to stay in a somewhat im­poverished village, in a sympathetic and help­ful neighbourhood. Here, her story is known to all. Even the children of her school refer to her as ‘Narendrabhai Modi’s wife’.

But for all practical purposes, that means lit­tle. Jashodaben does not enjoy any privileges. She has to sweep and clean her house, fill water, use a public toilet, cook her meals and wash her own clothes. She does not have any domestic help.

The moment a car is spotted in the village, those living in the bylane leading to Jashodaben’s house gather outside their homes and maintain a close watch on her. Everyone I met claimed to be close to her. In fact, some even asked for money to ensure good access to her. Every Sunday, she takes the 20 km ride to Brahmanwada in an autorick­shaw to spend the day with her brother’s family. Her brother runs a provision store.
People close to her say that she longs for that phone call from her husband, the call asking her to come and live with him forever. Jashodaben has consulted numerous astrologers for this rea­son. Interestingly, the verdict of all the astrolo­gers is that one day she will definitely live with her husband.

The war between the BJP and Congress in Gujarat, particularly in Rajosana, works in Jashodaben’s favour. Her story will be retold over and over again.

For many years, the Congress had an upper hand in the Panchayat elections, but of late, the BJP is emerging stronger here. So, while Modi’s supporters maintain a close watch on Jashodaben’s activities to ensure that her dis­closures do not embarrass the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his opponents are keen to reveal her to the nation. Meanwhile, Jashodaben is noticed to be turning increasingly religious.

Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi




he first slogan that he coined to capture the voters` imagination was "Apnu Gujarat, Agavun Gujarat or Our Gujarat, Unique Gujarat". Since 7th October 2001 has been the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujrat. He was promoted to the office following the defeat of the BJP in the elections. In December 2002, he won re-election as chief minister with 126 seats in the 182-member assembly. In the early 1990s, as elections organiser he participated in the rise to political dominance of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat.

Mr Narendra Modi was born on 17th September 1950, to a middle class family in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. During his student life, he displayed influential leadership qualities, and this was clearly seen when he successfully set up a new chapter of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, at that time it was a powerful national student body. This post-graduate in political science, Modi entered social life right at the beginning of his career, in the early seventies. He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a young man in the year 1974. After that he became a full-time worker and organiser for it. During his engagement with RSS, he plunged into the anti-corruption movement. In the early 1980s, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was the brigde between the RSS and the BJP.

Modi was recognized as the master planner between 1988 and 1995, who had successfully carried out the necessary groundwork for making BJP the ruling party of the state. The responsibility of organizing two crucial national events were entrusted to Narendra Modi during this period - the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra (a very long march) of Mr Advani and a similar march from Kanyakumari (the southern most part of India) to the troubled Kashmir in north.

To note a statement of Lal Krishna Advani, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party about Modi "a leader who, after being subjected to a malicious and prolonged campaign of vilification, has been able to impress even his critics with his determination, single-minded focus, integrity and a wide array of achievements in a relatively short time".

In the beginning, he was believed to be a back-room operator for the political party. He was made the National Secretary of the party in the year 1995, in charge of five major states in India. He was asked to head the government of Gujrat in the turmoil period (2001) of Gujrat, as the state was undergoing problems because of several natural calamities including the massive Gujarat Earthquake in January 2001.

In order to compensate for economic losses, Modi re-organised the government`s administrative structure. It was during his headship Gujarat registered the highest growth rate among all the states in India with a GDP growth rate of over 10%. Narendra Modi was credited by the Gujrat Government for reducing the fiscal deficiency of the state treasury by fifty percent and reducing the losses of the Gujarat State Electricity Board. It is his initiative with which the availability of electricity in many parts of rural Gujarat was increased in over 5,000 villages.

Successful raising of the height of the Narmada Dam from 95 to 110.64 metres is one of the most substantial accomplishments of his government that has been resulted in increased irrigation, water supplies and hydroelectric power. The increased height has resulted in waters finally flowing to practically all parts of the state. Several drinking water schemes, in addition, have been accomplished and the problem of water scarcity is nearly on its way to extermination. By over one hundred per cent, value of the agricultural production of Gujarat has grown during the first three years of the Narendra Modi`s government.

Narendra Modi is considered to be one of the most easily reachable political leaders in India. He is popular and progressive, tech-savvy and a true democrat, a poet and author of three books. For the 500,000 government employees in Gujarat, Modi has launched a motivated training programme. He is a leader who believes in teamwork. This initiative of him is being watched in admiration by every other state and is in for replication through out the nation. A true Karmayogi (doer), as he has been named Mr Modi refuses to be intimidated by catastrophes and turmoil and is effectively leading Gujrat to be one of the top states of India.. His trail-blasting efforts have afforded rich dividends for the economy of the state.

Narendra Modi has been awarded by `India Today` as the best chief minister twice in three years. Modi is considered front-runner in party`s leadership among the next generation of politicians. A section of society calls him "Chhotte Sardar" the next Sardar Patel who is most distinguished politician from Gujarat-State who is the architect of India with immeccable contribution to India`s freedom movement.

Narendra Modi is widely esteemed as a youthful and vigorous leader with innovative thoughts. Modi has communicated his vision successfully to the people of Gujarat and has been able to impart faith, trust and hope among the 50 million people of Gujarat. Image of the state as a preferred investment destination with the successful conclusion of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2005, among global investors has taken a quantum leap. Mr Narendra Modi is adored as an able and visionary leader, wide cross section of the people of Gujarat, cutting across religions, income groups and even political affiliations. He is also admired as one who is successfully, significantly, extensively, transparently and persuasively uplifting the quality of their lives.