Raj Thackeray’s 9-day Gujarat tour from 3rd August, meeting with Modi scheduled

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray is coming to 9-day Gujarat trip on 3rd August. Thackeray is coming to study the Gujarat model of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Theckeray will start his visit from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram. Gujarat government officials will show him a presentation in the afternoon in Gandhinagar. Thackeray is also scheduled to meet Chief Minister Modi in the evening on same day.

From fourth August onwards, Thackeray will start his Gujarat tour to study various developmental projects. Thackeray will be accompanied by Gujarat government’s concerned officials during his entire visit.

Thackeray had proposed a visit to Gujarat in middle of July sending a letter in this regard through MNS MLA Shishir Shinde, and Vice President Saraswat. Raj’s representative met Modi in person and gave him Raj’s letter. Raj’s letter started with ‘Jay Maharashtra/ Jay Gujarat.’ Narendra Modi told Raj’s representatives in Marathi language that he would talk to Raj over a phone call.

Raj has been ardent fan of Narendra Modi’s working style. In February this year Raj had said in Nagpur that Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan should take tuition on good governance from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In May, 2009 speaking at Nigadi near Pune Raj had said Narendra Modi deserved to be the nation’s Prime Minister. “I don’t see a better candidate for prime ministership than Modi. He has put Gujarat on the path of development. He has exhibited good administrative skills,” Raj Thackeray said.

In 2008 when Shobha Day asked Raj in an interview: “Why do you think the Maharashtrian manoos lacks the killer instinct that we see in other states?”

Raj replied , “those who govern us have become mentally corrupt. Ultimately they are the ones who influence masses. Through the elections in Gujarat, each time two Gujaratis came face to face here, they said “Om Namah Namah”. They meant Om Narendra Modi Namah.

When day asked further “What do you think of him?” Raj said, “He is a very good administrator. He has been called all kinds of names. Some of my Muslim friends said ‘Whatever happened in Godhra etc, is okay. But the way Modi is leading progress in Gujarat, we wonder why we came back here? We feel like going back.”

On next question, “Does Maharashtra need a Narendra Modi? Raj replied “hundred per cent.”

It’s not only Raj Thackeray who believes in Gujarat’s development. His uncle Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thakre had come out in strong support of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2009 for his leadership qualities, saying that “BJP needs Sardar Modi, who is a `swayambhu (self-created) leader. Our ally (BJP) may not like this statement but it is in my genes to tell the truth. Modi has the power to get what he wants by even bending Delhi.”

Modi model’s praise finds takers in Maharashtra across the party lines. Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Prithviraj Chavan speaking at Ahmednagar’s Mahatma Phule Agriculture University said in May this year, “Gujarat’s Agri growth rate is 11 per cent consistently for last ten years.”

He further said, “We are familiar with Gujarat’s situation that they get Narmada water, but the way agricultural production happens there, their one year produce is equal to our ten years produce. Though some fundamental changes are now initiated(in our state), their growth rate is 11%, which has never been witnessed before and never will be witnessed in future(na bhuto na bhavishyati). While they are having 11% growth rate in agriculture, our growth rate in agriculture is merely 4-4.5%. Whether we would be able to achieve same growth rate as Gujarat or not, we have to think about that.”

Raj Thackeray has cleared in recent interview that his proposed Gujarat visit is just to witness the development projects and it should not be seen in purely political tint.