Narendra Modi becomes India Inc poster boy

NEW DELHI | Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:17pm IST

The Supreme Court accused his government of turning a blind eye to the 2002 riots, and he was denied a visa to the United States in 2005.

But for executives, many of them major funders of national parties, Modi offers an ease of doing business in Gujarat lacking in many other states.

"In Gujarat all we have to deal with is normal business risk," said Sandeep Shah, managing director of HBS Realtors.

He said India's normal problems -- slow paper work and demands for bribes -- were almost non-existent in Gujarat.

The BJP has welcomed the two industrialists' statements. BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy called it "euphoric rhetoric".

"It is a vindication of all BJP chief ministers who have created business-friendly states."

Shah, who attended the conference, said the statements did not reflect support for the BJP as much as individual support for Modi.

The calls may have sparked unease within the BJP, with fears Modi could overshadow Advani, who at 81 may lack Modi's dynamism.

Some say it is unlikely Modi wants to be prime minister now. He is reported to be preparing huge celebrations in 2010 for the 50th anniversary of the formation of Gujarat state, which he could use to propel his national image.

"Most of the BJP believe Modi is the successor but nobody wants to derail the electoral campaign with three months to go," said Swapan Dasgupta, a political analyst with ties to the BJP.

Narendra Modi becomes India Inc poster boy

Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi gestures to his party supporters during victory celebrations at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad December 23, 2007.

Credit: Reuters/Amit Dave/Files

By Alistair Scrutton

NEW DELHI | Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:17pm IST

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Two powerful industrialists have pitched for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to be India's next leader, a sign of how the controversial Hindu nationalist is gaining momentum going into this year's elections.

Modi is a brilliant orator who has a reputation for battling corruption to bring development to Gujarat, but he is accused of turning a blind eye to the murder of hundreds of Muslims during riots in 2002 and is fiercely critical of Pakistan.

The statements by telecommunications tycoons Anil Ambani and Sunil Mittal were unusual in their frankness and reflect how many executives and members of the middle-classes clamour for someone like Modi to cut through red tape and improve the business climate.

"People like him should be the next leader of the country," Ambani, head of Reliance Communications, was widely quoted by local media as telling a business conference in Gujarat on Wednesday.

At the same conference, Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, said Modi "is very capable of running the whole nation".

Modi is not a prime ministerial candidate but is one of the leading lights of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is trying to unseat the ruling, left-of-centre Congress party-led coalition in elections due by May.

The endorsements underscore how much a player he may be as BJP leader L.K. Advani tries to convince Indian voters his party will be best at managing a trillion-dollar economy that has shown signs of slowing down after four years of boom.

A BJP win could propel India to a more pro-market agenda after years under Congress in which economic reforms have stagnated, to the frustration of many investors.

And Modi is the BJP poster boy.

"India Inc. roots for 'CEO' Modi," was the headline of the Mail Today.

Modi won re-election in Gujarat in 2007 with the help of his development record, despite continued Hindu-Muslim tensions.

That re-election more than anything convinced the BJP a national victory was possible after years of infighting sparked by its 2004 general election loss to Congress.

But Modi has yet to convince everyone he can translate his appeal in Gujarat onto a national platform, with many Indians uncomfortable with his record and his reputation for stoking tensions with Muslims.

Narendra Modi Swine Flu

Narendra Modi Swine Flu, Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister, who had returned from a trip to Russia in just 2 days ago has tested positive for swine flu.

The test was carried out at Narendra Modi on Thursday and was announced by the Govt Gujarat this morning, the news sent a wave of panic among the group of top businessmen in India who had accompanied him on his visit to Russia.

The Gujarat govt cabinet ministers are also being tested for the disease, all ministers were with Mr Modi in 3 hours of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting after his blood was positive.

One minister said: “There should have been at the meeting if they are suspected of having the swine flu. He could have waited for the results of the test.”

Modi will be kept in isolation for a week at his residence, where a team of doctors treating him.

Narendra Modi wil inaugurate as many

Narendra Modi wil inaugurate as many as six projects of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on 29 August

With civic elections just round the corner, the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party ( BJP) is on a ribbon cutting spree, opening populist projects by the dozens. Once poll notification is issued, the code of conduct would forbid any such inaugurations or announcements. Elections are due in October this year.

Sample this: On Sunday, chief minister Narendra Modi in span of 85 minutes will be criss-crossing from eastern parts to western parts of the city snipping ribbons and unveiling plaques for as many as six projects of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation alone.

Modi will begin by inaugurating Adinathnagar water distribution station and Bag-e-Firdaus recreation centre at 5.30 pm, then rush to Raipur to inaugurate Pandit Shyamji Krishna Verma sports, cultural and commercial complex at 6 pm. After that inauguration of revamped Jayshankar Sundari hall at 6.15 pm will be followed by commencement of heritage building project and new Sardar Patel Bhavan at municipal headquarters in Danapith.

At 6.55 pm, Modi will be inaugurating Ravishankar Raval cultural auditorium and gallery. Finally, the last event will be opening of new western zone office of AMC named after late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Sindhia.

Same is the case with mayor Kanaji Thakore, who will inaugurate water distribution station in Arbudanagar, Odhav; mural painting of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Dhal ni Pol, and new civic centre at Dharnidhar crossing.

However, this has left opposition members of Congress fuming. Leader of Congress Surendra Baxi said, “In last one month, AMC authorities have inaugurated more than 100 civic projects, many of them yet to be completed. This is a political gimmick and also a complete wastage of public money.” He added, “Lakhs of rupees are splurged in these activities for which no one is made accountable.”

The opposition members allege that in the standing committee meeting of AMC on Friday, the ruling party members put forth a Rs 4 crore road project on the priority list even before making a detailed estimate of it. Baxi said, “If estimate of the project is not approved how can AMC authorities pass the tender?”

Modi will also address a public meeting on Sunday evening at Bodakdev.

Swiss bank money led to stocks boom: Modi

Swiss bank money led to stocks boom: Modi | Hide replies Apart from the black money and huge amount lying in countries other than India,Indian WElfare system is poor. For example the person who has earned througt life say upto 62 years and he or she migrates to USA than after 65 all citizans are given special allowance and total medical care. In India common person after paying tax upto 65 years his welfare is not looked at all by GOI. It is family respnsibility. Even if you have earned and paid to the country all taxes, if you are out of miney you have to visit Goverment Health System which is good only if you want to die.Even MEDICLAIM are not offered after 58 years. To get honest tax payers, see that he is getting reasinable preference as and when required. Ordinary person has to pay Rs.50,000 to Rs.1,00,000 for their kids in KG One and that to through influence. At present in India health and education are only in dreans of all middile class people. Goverment is worried for BPL,SC/ST/OBC farmers etc. When we are collecting taxes we should also look thatfrom the same tax we will get some benefit for shelter, food,cloths, health, education. This is the main cause of corruption and black money.

Narendra Modi to inaugurate 500-MW solar park

Narendra Modi to inaugurate 500-MW solar park

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Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate Solar Park at Charanka village in Santalpur taluka of Patan district on December 30. This is considered as Gujarat’s huge step to tackle the issue of climate change.

The project will produce 500-MW of power with the use of renewable energy source. Use of solar energy will decrease the CO2 emission by 8 lakh million ton and save the bio-fuels like coal and gas. This is a first-ever project in entire Asia and with 500-MW of power production through solar energy, Gujarat will be the first state in the country to take such measure.

The solar park is likely to get solar energy for 330 days in a year amounting 5.5 to 6.0 KW per Sq.km solar radiation every day. Gujarat government has agreed upon buying 933-MW of power under its new solar power policy, which is a remarkable move in the solar power sector of India.

The solar park at Charanka village will be constructed on the land of 2000-hectare for the phase-1. Out of which 1000-hectare is a waste land. Land acquisition process is still in progress. Works for the transmission of the power produced on the site have been started by Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd (GETCO).

All the resources needed to produce electricity will be provided to the producer on the site ensuring a saving of time and money both for government and the energy-producers. In the phase-1, land will be acquired mainly by GPCL. Plots will be separated out and will be given to energy-developers for the lease of 30 years. Facilities like water, electricity, roads, rain water drainage, power transmission facility and others will be provided to power producers. Government is done with the onsite studies like topography survey, geotechnical survey and others.

State government will also establish projects like solar plant machinery manufacturing, research and development and others. Government will also work for training and research in order to provide technical manpower.

The project will also develop the remote villages like Charanka. Besides, the state will see an investment of around 7500-crore. The park will also have a need for assembling, civil works, electrical wiring, solar panel cleaning and others and thus will give employment to large number of local people.

It is worth noting that Gujarat is taking initiative in the use of wind energy, solar energy, hydro power and tidal energy. Gujarat has brought out its solar power policy in 2009 and it got unprecedented response. Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit held in 2009 saw MOUs with 57 companies for the production of 9606 MW. The new solar policy will likely to fetch an investment of Rs.65,000-crore in coming three to four years. Use of solar and other renewable energy will ensure low carbon emission, clean environment and an employment for around 40,000 people.