CM Narendra Modi talks with IIMA alumnis, says Gujarat will be global capital for solar yenergy

CM Narendra Modi talks with IIMA alumnis, says Gujarat will be global capital for solar energy

Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today at IIMA conclave said that Gujarat is heading towards being a global capital for solar energy.

IIMA conclave was organized today jointly by IIMA alumni association and government of Gujarat, as a part of celebration of IIMA's golden jubilee and promotion of forthcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit. Chief Minister participated a question-answer session besides delivering keynote address on the occasion.

Shri Modi said that Gujarat government, by exploiting all possible natural means of energy is trying show a way-out in the time of energy crises. He said that world's largest solar energy park is being setup on the land of Gujarat and many countries are now eager to partner the state in the field of solar energy. Gujarat is also open for a global participation in the field of solar energy equipment manufacturing and is already done with the solar energy policy, he said.

Chief Minister called upon young intellects to chip in their skills for the development of the state in the newer directions. He said that Gujarat has formed an Innovation Commission. A world-class incubation centre is also going to be established in the state and government will assist the young minds having innovating ideas, with a venture fund.

Shri Modi appreciated IIMA alumni's eagerness for contributing in Gujarat's development and said that IIM has given a huge contribution in the progress of the state.

Chief Minister said that the state government is putting emphasize on P2G2 (Proactive Pro-people Good Governance) and development friendly atmosphere in the state. Government wants to provide a 'pragati ni sidi' (ladder of progress) to industries instead 'subsidy', he said.

IIM alumni Shri S.B.Dangayach and Pro. Atanu Ghosh described Shri Modi as an extraordinary leader and manager and said that Gujarat has scored a high position in the world due to his farsighted leadership.

Modi's visa woes begun with China

GANDHINAGAR: Even as Narendra Modi flies off to London after being rejected a visa by Uncle Sam, mystery surrounds his visit to China that never took place. The tour, planned in December last year, was cancelled at the last minute. At that time, Modi men proffered some garbled explanations for why this happened.

Instead of the land of dragons, Modi journeyed to the easy-to-enter Singapore and Hong Kong on the scheduled dates. A little later he went to Australia.

The Gujarat chief minister was keen to visit Shanghai and other places to see for himself the ports and special economic zones. He had timed his visit with a Confederation of Indian Industry-organised India Trade Fair. Two consultants - AT Kearney and Ernst & Young - were also set to fix Modi's meetings with business leaders.

When quizzed about the Chinese fiasco on Wednesday, Modi's office preferred not to comment. But a senior official close to the chief minister said, "Let me put it this way, getting a visa for Beijing proved to be quite a complicated affair." Another official said: "There were some protocol problems, so Modi cancelled his trip."

Threat to Modi's life in UK, trip called off

NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Following a call from PM Manmohan Singh on Thursday night, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi cancelled his proposed UK trip.

Modi, who has been in the eye of a storm following denial of visa to him by the US, was scheduled to attend the 'Gujarat Day' function at London's Royal Albert Hall on March 26. He was to fly to London on Friday afternoon from Mumbai.

Official sources in New Delhi said the PM called Modi at 10 pm and advised him to cancel the trip in view of intelligence reports from Central agencies that there was a specific threat to his life from the Dawood Ibrahim gang and jehadi groups, including Al-Qaida affiliates. Several radical Islamic groups are known to have a strong presence in the UK. When Modi showed reluctance to cancel the trip, the PM, according to the sources, told him that if he went ahead, not only his own life would be in danger but also the consequences for the nation could be grave. Modi finally relented.

In a short span of half an hour, the CM received calls from three Union government functionaries, advising him to cancel the visit. The first to call him was home secretary Dhirendra Singh. When he showed reluctance to heed the home secretary's advice, home minister Shivraj Patil called him. But in vain.

Meanwhile, Modi held consultations with top leaders of his party, who reportedly told him that in a federal polity, the Centre's advice cannot be ignored.

The final decision to cancel Narendra Modi's visit to UK was taken after a call from the PM. Modi is reported to have told him: "If you are advising me not to go, I'll not go."