Narendra Modi’s Chennai speech - Offstumped Commentary

Narendra Modi’s Chennai speech - Offstumped Commentary

Very interesting speech by Mr. Modi at the Tughlaq Magazine’s annual reader’s event.

Cho Ramaswamy’s introduction of Narendra Modi was an interesting twist to Sonia Gandhi’s Merchant of Death remark much to the pleasure of a cheering audience.

It was a speech that Modi delivered largely extempore without any prepared notes and interspersed with anecdotes and wisecracks at the Congress.

Few highlights that stood out worth commenting upon in Mr. Modi’s speech.

- He opened his remarks with a tribute to democracy and what makes Cho a true democrat. For someone who has been routinely bandied as a Hitler in the making it should strike even the most ardent Modi critic as important that he should have chosen to open his speech with a reference to democracy and not to Hindutva, not to BJP not to mundane politics but with a reference to that which is most paramount - a commitment to democracy.

- The next subject that Modi chose to comment on again was very interesting when he chose to highlight the importance of conviction and courage in being open to criticism not by those who despise you but especially those who are most dearest to you.

- A little known aspect of Mr. Modi’s work ethic also surfaces as well with an oblique dig at the mainstream media and its antipathy towards Modi for its praise of Manmohan Singh not taking a vacation in 3 years.

- Modi then went on to sound all the right notes on how he views the recent win in Gujarat as a burden and responsibility rather than as a trophy to be relished and enjoyed.

- More digs at the Congress on how “poor its arithmetic was” in its allegation that Modi had 250 pairs of clothes.

The most important aspect of his speech surfaces a full 15minutes into the meeting when Modi goes on to exude why the Nation must adopt a Positive Attitude towards Change. Very important given the overwhelming mindset of negativism that dominates the public discource that seeks to justify entitlements in the name of social justice. Modi makes a great example of his life story and backward origins to defy this mindset that seeks entitlements by making the point that with convictions, courage and commitment anything was possible.

- Modi then goes on to talk about his social commitment for education to the girl child to improve Gujarat’s performance in this area and how over a span of 4 years Gujarat was close to 100% enrollment from a situation of 49% dropout with a target of 0% dropout by 2010.

Point to be noted, the ease with which Modi references social performance indicators in his extempore speech and the mindset which is performance oriented and metrics driven. A stark contrast with the typical Indian Politician who is high on rhetoric and emotion and low on substance.

- Modi then goes on to talk about the poor village to gynaecologist ratio and the high rate of mortality in below poverty line pregnant women and how his public-private partnership for pregnant women, along the lines of the Milton Friedman Voucher System for education, benefitted 1.58 lakh women and how atleast 6000 maternal/infant mortalities were prevented.

- Interesting tid-bit on how the entire bureaucracy opposed his Jyotigram scheme to fix rural electricity problems and how usolicited advise from the Congress conveyed the impossibility of making the scheme work. Modi then goes on to talk about how he borrowed 10 crores from the Co-operative sector to pilot the scheme in 45 villages to then go onto make it a success across the state in 1000 days - 23 lakh electricity poles, 56,000 transformed, 75,000kms of cable Modi reels off statistics to make the point that if it wills the creaking State Machinery can deliver. A snide jab at Karunanidhi’s extended and unaccounted for family follows

- Another great example follows on how technology can be used to eliminate corruption with toll gates and cross border checkposts between Gujarat and Maharashtra with another Modiquet - “if you have the will you can win… against corruption”

- Some media bashing follows on how cliched the allegations of communalism had become and the ever changing definition of secularism.

Modi gives an interesting spin to the secualrism debate saying his model of development was inherently secular for it benefitted all making no distinction or discrimination of none.

- Another anecdote follows on how illegal immigration from Bangladesh in Assam was distorting the local labor market.

Modi makes a point of fiscal discpline on how Gujarat went from a revenue deficit to a revenue surplus and how he was not a tax and spend liberal with his track record of not introducing new taxes. Point to note for all those to the right of center on economic issues.

- Another anecdote on the profitibaility of the electricity board

Modi takes entitlements head on how Karunanidhi was doling out free color televisions in Tami Nadu and the Congress made a similar promise in Gujarat with his counter promise to crack down on tax evasion.

- Modi goes on to praise the maturity of the people of Gujarat for their rejection of entitlements and their faith in a government that stood for upholding the rule of law while taking a dig at the media for its rubbish on structural polarisation in Gujarat.

- Reference to a world bank study on recovery in Kutch after the earthquake with parallels to the Indian Ocean Tsunami

- More anecdotes on taking hard decisions in the financial sector even at the risk of taking tough action against partymen.

- Some chest thumping follows on rural broadband connectivity and a dig at the United States on denying him a visa. Modi elaborates on distant education using the broadband network.

Modi goes on to eulogise on how he intends to develop Gujarat with a scientific temper leveraging technology.

Very important point follows on role of Government in Wealth Creation. Modi articulates a clear philosophy of “Minimum Government and Maximum Governance”. Leave wealth creation to the Enterprenuer who is most capable of creating wealth, focus on Governance and make sure the opportunities to benefit from wealth are maximized.

Offstumped Bottomline: A lot of debate has ensued on this blog, INI and elsewhere on what Right of Center means and which political entity in India stands for Right of Center values and principles. This speech by Narendra Modi must rank as one of the most clear articulation of a Right of Center philosophy premised on “Minimum Government and Maximum Governance” that rejects subsidies, denies entitlements, stands up for National Security while being fiscally responsible and letting Enterprises the freedom to create wealth.

Hindustan Times abetting assassination of Modi?

Hindustan Times abetting assassination of Modi?

Narendra Modi's stunning victory will change Indian politics decisively, perhaps dramatically, possibly desperately. I have no doubt it's a turning point. Actually, it will amount to several turning points. For the Congress and for the Left, just as much as for the BJP and the NDA.

First the BJP. Nothing has galvanised the party so comprehensively since Advani's rathyatra of 1989, imbuing it with a sense of hope, even a sense of purpose. In Modi, the BJP has discovered three elements it was anxiously searching for — leadership, issues to stand for and the first hope that it can win a majority on its own.

Of course, Advani will continue as its prime ministerial candidate, but Modi is the future. The succession is settled. No other second generation leader can match him. And as for the argument that Modi cannot take centrestage in Delhi because the NDA allies won't accept him, the counter is that with Modi at the helm, the BJP could attempt to win on its own. The NDA may no longer be critical.

The key question is can Moditva work outside Gujarat? It depends on how you define it. If you believe it combines strong personal leadership and integrity, with an appeal to regional pride or robust nationalism — admittedly with strong communal undertones — and a stress on development, I see no reason why it can't translate throughout the country. Even the fact that it alienates minorities is counterbalanced by the promise of uniting Hindus as never before. And if in Gujarat it could cut across divisions of caste, wealth and location, then it can hope to do so elsewhere as well.

Modi and Moditva is, therefore, the challenge facing the Congress, the UPA and the Left. I don't deny it has to be fought ideologically, but that also calls for the projection of a single personality who, in herself, embodies the fight. She has to rival Modi's appeal — both his magnetism and his myth — and symbolise the alternate vision.

Perhaps there is only one person who can do that. The pronoun 'she' was used deliberately. It's Sonia Gandhi. It may be an irony that an Italian-born woman, a widow who till 1998 detested politics, should transform into one of the twin poles of Indian politics, but it could also be an inescapable fact. No other person from the anti-BJP parties has the appeal or the nation-wide image to rival Modi.

Of course, Sonia has a lot to learn. Amongst the most important is the capacity to articulate ideas that catch like fire, and the ability to sell herself to the India beyond the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. At the moment she provokes curiosity or, perhaps, awe. Now she needs to create a following.

For the rest of us, voters rather than politicians, commentators but not participants, we also have to make a critical choice. We can either accept the idea of Modi and Moditva and adapt and adjust to it, or overcome our concerns with the Gandhi dynasty and Sonia in particular, and join the fight she must lead.

If I'm right, the middle ground is shrinking, even disappearing. The emergence of a dominant idea on the saffron front and, in response, the creation of an equal but counterveiling force on the other will squeeze out everything else. The more Moditva grows, the more its opposite has to be strengthened. Increasingly the choice will be one or the other. We will have to take sides.

Where does this leave the regional parties and the Left? They may retain their identity, even their present base, but they will have to line-up behind Modi or Sonia, in the saffron camp or the liberal/secular one. They may even have to submerge themselves within the broad appeal of the camp they belong to.

New Deoband Chief's love for Modi fails to get Muslim approval - Ummid.com

New Deoband Chief's love for Modi fails to get Muslim approval - Ummid.com

It was a scoop by Indian Express that first came out with the Vastanavi story, that got Times of India's goat. It had to call up its mischief mongers to come out with divisive material to sully the peaceful atmosphere. A professional rivalry has blown up a storm in Muslim circles who are instantly and emotionally so disturbed by Modi name, that any soft corner from him, true or false has no place in their scheme of things. Times of India's mischief must be exposed. Maulana Vastanvi has just taken charge of a very old and tradition bound Muslim institution. He has yet to come to get to grips with the wider community and political impact of Darul Uloom's position in community and national, even international affairs.

It is common practice, even by novice journalists to goad interviewee into blurting out sensitive responses, without fully comprehending how far TOI's communication power can distort the real intent of any response, however casual, however cursory it may be. On the ground, in Gujarat, Muslim do have to deal with this oppressive communal regime, which can hardly be expected to go through a change of heart like that of Aseemanand and be human and humane enough to own its guilt, tender an apology to the Muslims of Gujarat as well as the entire world and offer generous rehabilitation package.

The RSS parcharak that Modi appears to be of different metal and more honed in RSS fundamental policy of hate of Muslims and Islam. It will again be a miracle from Almighty, if Modi too gets a heart change. We will look to Almighty rather to Modi, for any such change in his attitude over the entire matter of Gujarat communal riots.

muslimmalaysia786

muslimmalaysia786

I did not believe in 2002 that there was an organised conspiracy that led to the Godhra train burning and nine years later in 2011 my belief remains the same. Notwithstanding the judgment delivered by the trial court.

Well, it was always not like this. For the first month after the February 27, 2002, carnage, I believed like most others that coach S6 of Sabarmati Express had been deliberately put on fire. But at that time I had not visited Godhra. I went to Godhra at the end of March 2002 and ran into the deputy superintendent of police Bava, who was investigating the case and his boss inspector general of police Agja. Both were at the police post adjacent to the platform of Godhra station when we ran into them. (I say we because with me was our then bureau chief in Vadodara and now editor of Chandigarh edition, Raja Bose). I asked the duo how far they had proceeded in unravelling the conspiracy. The cops said that if there was a conspiracy they were yet to come across any evidence. I could not believe what they were saying but managed to keep a straight face. “If there was no evidence how did the coach get burnt?” I asked. Mr Agja said that he was not sure but added that at any time there were 20-30 vendors on the platform hawking their wares like tea. Most of them carried small-sized gas cylinders with burners with them. In the midst of a fracas that had broken out between the kar sevaks and these vendors things could have turned ugly with some vendors throwing in burning rags inside the train. This could have caused a fire, Agja concluded but emphasized that this was a possibility but not his definitive account of what had happened. I asked the inspector general whether he could be quoted by name on what he had said: “Yes,” he said and became emotional and said that he had merely a year and a half of service and at this stage he cared for nothing other than the truth. He looked at Bava and said: “He has only a month left, why should he bothered either?”

Before running the story I checked Agja’s story with many top police officers. They agreed with the argument and said that the belief in the top police echelon was also this. Curiously when the story was front-paged in TOI, in all its editions, the reaction was muted. Late in the afternoon, a distressed Agja called me and said: “Nag sahib, yeh kya kar diya apney?” I said I had checked with him and asked him to cool down. Later in the evening an apologetic public relations officer of the police department called me. “Everyone knows what you wrote is correct, but yet Mr Agja wants us to issue a clarification. You are free to do whatever you want to. When the clarification arrived I found it wishy-washy and threw it into the dustbin. Later I came to know that Narendra Modi had summoned Agja who told him that he had not said anything. This was recounted to me by none other than Mr Modi and when I told him that in fact Agja had said so, the Gujarat chiefminister kept quiet. A little later Agja was transferred.READMORE Narendra Modi vs A-G Gani Patail The Nefarious Hidden Hands of The Axis of Evil

Narendra Modi inducts six new Ministers of State

Narendra Modi inducts six new Ministers of State

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi 2 Febuary 2011 expanded his Council of Ministers by inducting six new Ministers of State.

This was the second expansion of the Council of Ministers in five months and the third since Mr Modi took charge after the December 2007 Assembly elections.

With the addition of the six new Ministers, the strength of the Council of Ministers has gone up to 27.

The new entrants were administered oaths of office and secrecy by Governor Kamla Beniwal at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan here this morning.

The new Ministers are Jitendra Sukhadia, MLA from Vadodara, Ranjit Gilitwala, from Surat, Mohan Kundariya from Tankara, Ishwar Patel from Ankleswar, Jaidrathsinh Parmar from Halol and Liladhar Vaghela from Diyodar.

Two Ministers of State had resigned following the registration of police cases against them.

Minister of State for Women's Welfare Mayaben Kodnani resigned in 2009 following her arrest in connection with the 2002 communal massacre in Naroda Gam, while Minister of State for Home Amit Shah resigned after his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh-Kausar Bi murder case in July last year.

Mr Modi will allocate the portfolios to the new ministers later in the day.