Ahmedabad, 6 February, 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today observed a day long Sadbhavana fast at Bardoli in Surat district, where thousands of people gathered to greet him.

Speaking at Sadbhavna fast function Shri Modi said, “development is the sole medicine for resolving every problem of country. Gujarat is the first State in the country where our Government fights every election on the issue of development, while others fight elections with “vote bank strategy”.

The Chief Minister said, Gujarat Government rules the State with absolute sensitivity and care for people. We have taught the right definition of development to the world. We have set up 41 universities in last decade against 8 universities that were established in the past 40 years. We have established Science stream schools in every tribal taluka of the State, right from Ambaji to Umargam tribal districts across the State.

Coming down heavily on Union Government, he said, “Center’s policy is to “Divide and Rule while our policy is Inclusive Growth-Collective Efforts”. He called upon people to eradicate Vote Bank policy from the political field and said, “If others want to follow Gujarat in development sector, they should not merely copy us but, first of all, they must adopt our path of peace, harmony and integrity”.

Shri Modi announced a development package of Rs. 1300 crore for the all round development of Surat district, totaling to Rs. 3400 crore. It May be recalled that he had announced Rs. 2100 crore for Surat city and district before two months during his Sadbhavana Fast in Surat city.

“If you defame me I don’t care, but if you try to defame Gujarat, I will never tolerate it”, he warned his opponents.

Attributing the development of Gujarat to six crore Gujaratis Chief Minister said, Gujarat’s development was solely based upon unity, harmony, peace and integrity of 6 crore people of Gujarat . Gujarat and development has become the synonymous to each other Gujarat has adopted the path of peace. Curfew and riots have now become past in Gujarat . Gujarat has earned a unique identity in the world.

Religious leaders from various communities, people from all section of society, sports persons, journalists, physically handicapped and school children, women-house wives, teenagers, Merchant Association, youngsters and old persons and thousands of tribal people in their traditional dresses dancing with drums and musical instruments, met shri Modi, and extended their strong support towards the noble cause of Sadbhavana Mission Fast. At least 15000 people of the district voluntarily observed Sadabhavana Fast with Chief Minister at the same venue to show their solidarity with CM.

District Collector A.J. Shah handed over the cheque of Rs. 67,50,000 for 1,35,000 subscription of Gujarat Magazine, being published by State Information Department.

Minister-in-charge Mangubhai Patel in his welcome speech said, Gujarat Government’s Vanbandhu scheme for tribal community, women, youngsters and rural people have changed the life style of tribal people of state. Assembly Speaker Ganpatbhai Vasava, BJP State President R.C. Faldu, MP Kanjibhai Patel also spoke on the occasion. Member of Parliament and BJP National Vice President Purushottam Rupala lambasted Opposition for their one point programme of criticizing Chief Minister Narendra Modi. State Panchayat Minister Narottambhai Patel, Ministers Prafulbhai Patel and Jitubhai Sukhadia were also present.

As thousands of people across the district gathered to greet the CM, the large stage was flooded with flower bouquets and mementoes.

Ahmedabad, 6 February, 2012

While Gujarat Congress has announced the ‘Hisab do, jawab do’ agitation programme against ruling BJP government in the state, the Gujarat Chief Minister today took dig at Congress party’s this slogan and used same slogan while asking Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to clarify his stand in Rs 1,76,000 crore 2G scam. Modi challenged that if the latter was not able to clarify his position then he should quit in the larger interest of democracy. “Break your silence or quit”, he said loudly. Chief Minister Modi was speaking this at his concluding speech of a day long Sadbhavana fast in southern Gujarat city of Bardoli today.

Narendra Modi interacting with youths ahead of his one-day fast event in Kutch district’s Mandvi

Mandvi/Bhuj, 2 February 2012

Concluding his one-day Sadbhavana fast in Mandavi in Kutch Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has no right to be in power after the clear verdict from the Supreme Court today regarding the telecom scam.

“I am not demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation based on some baseless lies. The Apex Court has made the matter clean. Now the people want the Prime Minister to come out of silence and give answer”, he said.

The people of India have never seen before the scams of such big amounts. The rulers in Centre have ruined the country in a bid to please a handful of vested interests. The Central government is not only trying to save Mr. Chidambaram but it is also trying to guard other looters of Rs.1,65,000 crore telecom scam in a bid to save its regime, said Mr. Modi.

Referring to the opposition party in Gujarat, Mr. Modi said it is indulged in spreading lies to disturb the atmosphere of peace in the State.

It is noteworthy that as many as 20,674 people voluntarily observed fast with the Chief Minister today. A sea of humanity thronged the venue of fast conveying support to the motives behind Sadbhavna Mission. Chief Minister announced development projects worth Rs.2165 crore for Kutch district. At Kranti Tirth, the Chief Minister thrown open a touch-screen kiosk based on the life of Swami Vivekananda.

Talking about the development in Kutch Mr. Modi said once a drought-prone region of Kutch has now become an exporter of bananas and kesar mangos. This year’s Ran Utsav has become instrumental providing income of Rs.25 crore to the people of Kutch, he added.

Anand, 31 January 2012

During Sadbhavana fast in milk-city Anand, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced that a new Power Station will be set up at the cost of Rs. 1400 crore at Dhuvaran in Anand district.

“Gujarat will answer every sabotage, that is plotted against it, with Sadbhavana weapon”, he said adding that people wearing political spectacles on their eyes could never know the real spirit of Sadbhavana Mission, that solely depends upon peace, harmony, brotherhood and unity of six crore people of Gujarat.

Mr. Modi, while criticizing Union Government said, Union Government, in its last year budget announced that they would take up a pilot project to connect 3000 villages with broad band connectivity in India, while Gujarat Government, in the year 2008, had already connected all the 18 thousand villages of the State with broad band connectivity. That’s the development policy of Gujarat, he added. “Their policy is “Divide and Rule while our policy is Inclusive Growth-Collective Efforts”, Mr. Modi said.

Shri. Modi announced a development package of Rs. 2845 crore for the all round development of Anand district. Out of this, Rs. 1400crore will be allocated for setting up a new Power Station at Dhuvaran. Rest of the amount will be spent for building new roads and bridges, urban housing projects, implementing new water supply schemes, strengthening health and education sector , and to develop infrastructural facilities in the district .

Religious leaders from various communities, people from all section of society, sports persons, journalists, physically handicapped and mentally challenged children, school children, women-house wives, teenagers, NRI families, a group of Tibetian people, South Indian group, Merchant Association, jeans-clad youngsters and old persons and thousands of Maldhari people in their traditional dresses met shri. Modi, and extended their strong support towards the noble cause of Sadbhavana Mission Fast. As many as 11114 people of the district voluntarily observed Sadabhavana Fast with Chief Minister at the same venue to show their solidarity with CM. Health Minister Jai Narayanbhai Vyas, Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Education Minister Ramanlal Vora, State Minister for Law and Judiciary Pradeepsinh jadeja, Ministers Ranjitbhai Gilitwala, Liladharbhai Vaghela, Jitubhai Sukhadia, Ishwarsinh Patel, Sundersinh Chauhan, Dy. Chief Whip Ambalal Rohit, Popular TV Star Smruti Irani (Tulsi), BJP National vice president Purushottam Rupala, Ex Union Minister Satpal Malik were also present on the dais. Guardian Secretary Saneeta Singh and Collector Avantika Sinh were also present. As thousands of people across the district gathered at Akshar Farm campus to greet the CM, the large stage was flooded with flower bouquets and mementoes.

By Tejash Mody, Surat, 28 January 2012

On the occasion of inauguration of industrial exhibition in Surat organized by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries yesterday, Gujarat minister of state for Industry Shri Saurabh Patel presented a state scan of Gujarat’s industrial sector and challenges the sector is likely to face in coming days. Presented above is a video of Shri Saurabh Patel’s speech. Some major points of Shri Patel’s speech are presented below.

“Gujarat is going at fast pace. Shri Rohitbhai talked about economic slow down, and we are preparing our budget, but good signs are that this year also we are going to have double digit growth rate. So when the country is talking about something between seven and eight, we are sure that by end of 31st March, we will be able to show much better result.”

“From 1960 to 2002, forty two years the total plan size of all governments put together was 50,500 crores. From 2002-2007 49,500 crore 2007-2012 we will be crossing 1,50,000 now you know why decade is ours.”

Slowdown? Not in Gujarat

“Practically if you look at it, we are on automatic mode since last four five years, and this is resulted in VET collection this year has growth of more than 25%. When you talk about economic slow down there are three parameters which usually have effect of slowdown. Number one is VET collection, second is the energy consumption on industrial side which compared to last year is always 10% higher and third is transaction of land and building stamp duty, all three have shown a positive trend. Direct collection in Gujarat is also much higher, so people have paid good amount of tax.”

“I was talking with one of the big Oil majors in one of the functions, and he said the petroleum ministry called their marketing person asking why is it that in Gujarat their consumption is higher compare to other states. And the minister was replied that it is not only in petrochemicals side but everywhere.”

“Government of Gujarat has concentrated on providing infrastructure and this is one of the main reasons why the growth rate is good.”

“There are three four issues which I feel are going to be major concern for all over the country. But positively we will be out of that.”

And therefore newer inquiries for setting up industry in Gujarat keep coming

“One of the most important is availability of energy and financial condition of utilities. Three four months back the energy minister called a meeting of all the energy ministers of country on only one point agenda and that was health of utilities. Imagine that in the country the losses of all utilities put together will reach one lakh crore this year. How can you provide power. On one side you don’t have money to buy coal, then how you would provide electricity? And can you imagine that Gujarat is not only self sufficient but on much better place. This year alone from 13000 MW, we will be reaching 18,000 MW in a span of next eight to ten months. Unfortunate part is today 20 million units we are backing down. The reason is the country doesn’t have power on one side, there’s load sharing of 8-10 hours, and even at the rate of Rs 3.80 there are no buyers in country because of lack of finance.”

“Now why I am telling you? That’s because automatically the strength of Gujarat is going to be surplus power, which will drive industries from other parts of the country to the state. It is because if you need to run generator for 6-8 hours daily, which industry will sustain? And therefore newer inquiries keep coming. So the problem of the country is beneficiary to the state because of our infrastructure.”

Fuel and prices of fuels due to inefficiencies, a major issue

“Biggest second issue that the country is facing today is availability of fuel and the price of fuel. Because of inefficiencies in the sector especially coal, availability of coal is not there as per requirement. Can you imagine 15 top industrial houses producing generating power meet starting from energy minister, coal minister, environment minister, planning commission deputy chairman and finaly the prime minister on one single day and informing them what is going to happen in near future if the government of India doesn’t take quick decision. Because of inefficiency, mining output is not as per what it should be, they have increased coal prices and due to deteriorating system they have raised coal prices in range of 25% to 125% on 1st of January. After various representations before the power ministry and coal ministry, it is possible that there will be brake on coal price rise, but the decision it seems will not be reversed entirely, and there will be some increase at least. So pricing of coal, and pricing and non-availability of gas are going to be very important parameters as far as the industries are concerned.”

Land availability a major issue, Gujarat model of acquiring land

“Other issue is availability of land. And Government of Gujarat through GIDC has come up with a very aggressive policy. And as per that the price of land is determined by third party which is going to be based on market rate. And added to this, for livelihood, we give one percent commercial land to farmers at one rupee token, so that they continue to get income. Plus employment is given, and most important is that we give them profit on the development of that land into estate. Suppose Rs 100 are paid for the land, after construction if the land is sold at Rs 500 with road etc, then we give 10% on that Rs 400 difference. This way we are acquiring huge chunks of land especially in Sanand and Dahej. Unfortunately politics comes in a way, people are provoked. Recently a meeting was held in Dahej, but it didn’t get response. Such people bring politics and create speed breakers which make our progress delayed.”

Industries must be ready for desalination, high cost of water

“One more issue is water which we have to tackle now. It is very important that if Gujarat has to maintain this, desalination plants have to come up on the sea shore. It is expensive but it is going to be the matter of concern. It should be realized that agriculture growth is equally important. For development of industry, for increase in purchasing power, the income of the farmers has to increase. And the strength behind growth of Gujarat industries is that purchasing power of farmers has also increased.”

“Today we have double digit growth rate even in agriculture sector. Because of growth in agri sector growth there’s wide distribution of income and this is a very important sector which will require water in big quantum. And hence the industry has to get used to high cost of water over a period of time and desalination should be one of the important aspect to solve the issue of water.”

GST will being tax on diamonds, chamber should study GST

“Government of India committee is working on the GST model right now. It is very important that the trade and industry should study the implications of GST because it is going to have a long term effect. Unfortunately none of our trade asociations in the state or at the national level have been aggressive as far as GST is concerned. Nore they have gone through the advantages and disadvantages of the same. It is very important that SME, and chambers should understand the implication and see that in days to come they are not harmed by the new implementation through the changes in law.”

“I will just give a small example. Diamond will be having tax under GST. So you can understand what will happen to Surat. The strength of Gujarat is employment through diamonds. We have villages that enjoy huge employment in diamond sector.”

The minister concluded his speech with details of preparations of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013 and Gujarat’s march on the path of development through SIR and SEZs.

Interaction with students

Vadodara, 27 January 2012

In Yugaantar youth meet, held at MS University in Vadodara, Gujarat, Dr. Subramanian Swamy delivered a 58-minute long speech and also replied questions asked by the students on various subjects like his DNA article, decentralization and cluster development, reservation system among others. Dr. Swamy’s entire speech and conversation with students has been presented in the video above.

Ahmedabad, 22 January 2011

He is known as folkstar, but those who attended Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation organized event of felicitation of folkstar Praful Dave would agree that Dave is not just folkstar but he is more like a rockstar. With his songs, style and skill of performance, Dave successfully rock the place where he performs.

Late in the evening on Saturday, Tagore hall was full, and after a brief session of felicitation and speeches, everyone was eagerly waiting to enjoy the singer and performer Pradul Dave.

And then Dave came, and for couple of hours, there was extravaganza of Praful Dave kind of Gujarati singing and music.

The atmosphere was festive with people spontaneously coming to stage and dancing, offering currency notes to Dave, shouting and suggesting titles to sing, and Praful Dave too dancing, singing and making fun through brief comments and remarks in the course of performance.

Praful Dave while receiving an honor from state minister Nitin Patel and Mayor Asit Vora, said that it was his dream to be honored in the city of Amdavad, which has been fulfilled thanks to Asit Vora and Gaurang Vyas.

Dave started the performance by calling some older ladies of his family to sing a song which was sung when he was born.

Prafulbhai’s wife, daughter and son were present on the stage. While his son played keyboard, his wife and daughter were singing in chorus.

Prafulbhai recollected yesteryears and in a lighter tone, described how he married to his enemy(dushman) Bhartiben Kunchala and had his first individual performance in this Tagore hall.

In the course of performance joyful Prafulbhai asked the audience, “do you have any problem if my wife and daughter sing here with me?”

Prafulbhai also invited his son to play dhol and asked the audience this was a unique occasion in which the father was getting award and his son was playing dhol in joy.

Prafulbhai asked the organizers to allow those who forced by inner joy or love for the music, wanted to dance opposite the stage, or wanted to come to the stage to bless him.

In the last phase of the programme, Praful Dave jumped down the stage and visited the audience with mike.

Praful Dave requested Ahmedabad Mayor Shri Asit Vora to dance. Shri Vora, very serious and introvert by nature refused to dance, but Praful Dave continued to request him adding that he had in past successfully made few Mayors dance. Initially reluctant Asit Vora succumbed to Dave’s request and stood up and clapped and with momentary performing a style of dance he sat down shaking hand with Dave.

Praful Dave later said that to make somebody dance is tough when a person is involved in politics. “Once I was in Junagadh and I wanted to make MLA Mahendra Mashru dance. Mashru is known as very serious person, but I told him that if he would not dance, I would complain to Narendra Modi. Mashru finally danced,” Prafulbhai said.

The function to honor Shri Praful Dave was held under AMC’s Samskar Chaura initiative.

This was fifth event of Samskar chaura.

As Mayor Asit Vora is himself a singer, Samskar chaura activity has received momentum in past few months.

The entry was free in this event, like every other Samskar chaura function.

Praful Dave, his wife Bhartiben Kunchala and daughter singing, while his son Hardik is playing dhol, people dancing

Prafulbhai making his daughter singing

Prafulbhai’s wife and daughter. They too sing

A master performer

These school girls were saluting Narendra Modi one-by-one in row on Sadbhavana stage in Godhra

Godhra, 20 January, 2012

Speaking at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Sadbhabana mission fast function in Godhra, the minister for Cultural and Youth related activities Shri Fakirbhai Vaghela today compared Chief Minister Narendra Modi with Swami Vivekananda.

Shri Vaghela in his morning speech said, “Swami Vivekananda’s original name was Narendra. So we had one Narendra Dutt then, and one Narendra Modi here.And while saint Narendra Dutt was dharma dhurandhar, sant Narendra Modi is Karma dhurandhar.”

It should be mentioned that while 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is being celebrated in Gujarat as Yuva Shakti year, last week the district BJP President of Amreli had published an advertisement in which Swami Vivekananda’s photo was showed on one corner and on the other corner there was a same size photo of Narendra Modi wearing turban and standing with cross hands like Swami Vivekananda.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has time and again said that Swami Vivekananda is his icon.

Chief Minister Modi is generally described by his followers and supporters as another Sardar Patel, but nowadays Swami Vivekananda has replaced Sardar Patel when it comes to putting Modi in somebody’s shoes.

New Delhi, 19 January 2012

The BJP said that the Gujarat High Court order in Lokayukta appointment case was a “setback to federalism”. Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function here, BJP leader in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said, that since the governor was a nominee of the Union Government, giving him precedence over the state government was a setback to federalism.

“The governor is a nominee of the central government. If a governor gets primacy over the state government on the appointment of Lokayukta, it amounts to government of India appointing the Lokayukta,” he said.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) earlier, the BJP leader attacked the central government, saying that non-Congress ruled states were facing delays in getting legislations enacted as some bills were pending with the governors appointed by the central government.

Jaitley said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had ensured that chief ministers of Congress-ruled states were consulted before appointment of governors.

“When the NDA government was in power, we made sure that the home ministry consulted chief ministers before appointing governors, specially in Congress-ruled states. But today, every non-UPA state has half-a-dozen legislations pending with the governor,” Jaitley said.

Ahmedabad, 18 January 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that India has potential to attract more tourists than entire Europe, which could contribute to the nation’s economy, too. He called upon the Centre to create an independent authority to promote tourism. Successful management of Kumbh Mela and other festivals by volunteers suggests India can do it.

He was speaking at a function to mark felicitation of Gujarati pilgrims on their return from Kailash-Mansarovar. The function was organized by Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board.

He said that the people of Gujarat are known to be great tourists. What is needed is to develop the entire Gujarat, extending from Ambaji to Umargam as a great world tourism destination.

Mr. Modi said that 439 pilgrims from Gujarat have made it to Kailash-Mansarovar during the last three year. Gujarat Government presented a token memento of Rs.20,000 as encouragement to each pilgrim.

The Chief Minister described the event as linking of two languages of Gujarati and Chinese across the majestic Himalayan mountainous ranges. He said that Gujaratis comprised the maximum number of pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarovar.

Mr. Modi recalled that he too had visited Kailash-Mansarovar long back. Now there are many modern facilities available for the pilgrims. The pilgrimage provides a unique spiritual experience to the daring pilgrims in search of nearness to Nature. There is a difference between the concept of tourism in the West and that of Hindustan.

Surendranagar, 16 January 2012

Even as the accounts of Gujarat’s development story have reached far and wide, in rest of India and abroad, Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that he has undertaken ‘Sadbhvana Mission’ to ensure the Congress Government’s story of failures and collapses does not happen in Gujarat.

Rounding up his day-long Sadbhavna fast at Surendranagar as part of his state-wide Mission to hold such fasts at 33 places, he said he was overwhelmed by the support of 7,500 people coming from all the ten talukas of the district, called Zalawad region, to join him in his fast.

What the Congress party could not do at Centre in 40 years, he said, Gujarat did it in ten years. He said that India has adopted a federal structure of strong states for a strong nation. The strong relation is expected between father and son too, in a family. It encourages states excel. If the Centre doesn’t want to help Gujarat, let it not stop developing at least, treating Gujarat as an enemy nation.

Mr. Modi said that Gujarat has become an eyesore. The Centre is trying every trick to stall Gujarat’s development, whether it is releasing kerosene quota or fertilizer. The words ‘Gujarat’ and ‘Development’ have become the two sides of the same coin.

While foreign investment has fell by 40 per cent in India, he said, that in Gujarat has risen by 20 per cent. The Congress party men have adopted a policy of telling lies and abusing Gujarat though the newspapers and other media. The power hungry politicians at the Centre have pushed the nation to the road to downhill journey – be it its inability to contain inflation or check corruption.

The Chief Minister on the occasion announced new development works worth Rs.2,660-crore for the Surendranagar district.