Debate: Narendra Modi's image makeover possible?-2

Debate: Narendra Modi's image makeover possible?-2


TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami debates the issue whether Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's 450 Billion dollar deal ensures an image makover, industry applauding and critics attacking the move with Vinod Sharma, Political Editor, 'Hindustan Times'; Saurabh Patel, Industries Minister, Gujarat; Mahesh Jethmalani, senior lawyer & Leader, BJP and Madhusudan Mistry, former MP, Congress.

20 lakh crore rupees in investments - that's the claim made by the Narendra Modi Govt as the Vibrant Gujarat summit comes to a close. That's nearly 30% of the GDP of India. Modi's detractors say it could be a tall claim, but one nevertheless they don't want to counter.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi today said the state has been able to attract investments to the tune of Rs 20.83 lakh crore during the two-day long Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Speaking at the final session of the summit, Modi said as many as 7,936 MoUs were signed by the state government with several industrial houses to invest in the state.

On the first day of the summit, the state govt had said it got investment commitments totalling nearly Rs 15 lakh crore with 2,766 MoUs signed with business houses and companies.

Leading among those which announced mega investments in the state were Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group and Ahmedabad-based Adani Group. While Adani Group said it would invest Rs 80,000 crore in port, power generation and infrastructure, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group said it would pump in Rs 50,000 crore in the state in the state in the next 5-7 years on various projects in power and cement. Similarly, conglomerate Essar Group said it will invest Rs 30,000 crore in Gujarat for projects in various sectors, including power and refinery.

Engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro also committed an investment of Rs 15,000 crore in Gujarat on infrastructure projects, while infrastructure major Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) also said it will invest Rs 12,000 crore to develop a renewable energy park in the state. Farm equipment-to-software group Mahindra & Mahindra also signed six MoUs with the state government to invest Rs 3,000 crore to step up presence in the hospitality and real estate sectors in the state. Auto maker General Motors also said it is investing USD 100 million (Rs 450 crore) to enhance production capacity at its Halol plant to 1,05,000 units annually from 85,000 units per year at present.

According to Gujarat Principal Secretary for Industries and Mines M Sahu, major sectors which attracted investments are power, special investment regions, mineral-based industries, banks and financial institutions and oil and gas.

Narendra Modi: Congress Would Prefer Sohrabuddin Statue Over Sardar’s

Narendra Modi: Congress Would Prefer Sohrabuddin Statue Over Sardar’s

Narendra Modi, Gujarat chief minister criticised Congress because it opposed Modi’s plan of erecting a large Sardar Valabhai Patel statue.

He remarked that if Congress is to decide then it will prefer building Sohrabuddin's statue in place of Sardar Patel.

He said, "Sardar Patel did not belong to the BJP or RSS, he was a Congressmen yet the Congress is opposing my decision to build his statue, which will be the tallest of its kind in the world."

He further said that Congress can never accept homage paid to another Congressman let it be Subhashchandra Bose or Sardar Patel apart from the tribute paid by the Gandhi family.

Modi added, "The Congress could have asked people to worship Sohrabuddin's statue every morning."

Narendra Modi calls for a united stand against terrorism

Bangalore/New Delhi, Sept 14 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi today urged the country to unite against terrorism.

"I don't want to blame anyone. As far as terrorism is concerned, it is my conviction that country's voice must be united," said Modi, who is here to attend a conclave of BJP.

Modi's remarks came in the wake of the five serial blasts that shook New Delhi on Saturday evening, killing around 30 people and injuring around 125.

Earlier, he said that his state police had informed the Centre in advance about a detailed plan of the terrorists to hit the Capital. He also attacked the UPA for being "soft" on terrorism.

While lashing out at the Congress-led UPA for keeping in cold storage the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime bill (GUJCOC) which was pending before the President for the last four years, Modi said, "Those who are less for terror and more for terrorists are the one who opposes GUJCOC and Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO)".

Modi also said that the Congress party under Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had drifted away from the traditional Congress position on national sovereignty.Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil convened a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday at his residence to discuss security measures in the wake of terror attacks in the country.

A top official said various measures were discussed to tackle terrorism.

"We have also discussed various types of further measures that may be need to be taken, not only in Delhi, but in other major cities. We have been observing that these kinds of incidents have been happening in various cities. So, in each incident you gain learning experience, so we have been examining what kind of further measures are required. We will be working on those measures also in a time bound manner," said Madhukar Gupta, the Union Home Secretary.

Meanwhile, Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts. In an email to media organisations, the terror outfit that had also claimed responsibility for the July 26 Ahmedabad blasts, said that it had carried out the serial blasts in Delhi. It threatened that there would be nine blasts in all. (ANI)

Narendra Bahadur Singh is new CBDT chief

New Delhi, July 1 (ANI): Narendra Bahadur Singh has taken over as chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) from June 30.

An officer of the 1971 batch of the Indian Revenue Service, Singh was earlier Member (Personnel and Vigilance) in the CBDT.

Singh has served in various capacities in the Income Tax department as Chief Commissioner in Mumbai and Baroda, and as Commissioner in Mumbai and Kolhapur.

A Post Graduate in Sanskrit, Singh hails from Uttar Pradesh.

The CBDT is a part of Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance.

It provides essential inputs for policy and planning of direct taxes in India. At same time, it is also responsible for administration of direct tax laws through Income Tax Department. (ANI)