Juicy part of Narendra Modi’s Economic Times interview

Ahmedabad, 7 June 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s interview in the English daily The Economic Times today occupies the major portion of the 2nd page. While the interview starts with the central government, it progresses with industrial scenario in Gujarat. The concluding part of the interview is ofcourse about Modi’s possible debut in national politics and party affairs.

“In 2012, we plan for 2015,” Modi said in his interview while speaking on alternative model of Gujarat.

During the interview at one point of time in his interview, Modi said “We have spent Rs 18,000 crore for education, health and other needs of fishermen, who are mostly Muslims”.

When asked about small business and Gujarat, Modi replied to the question in this way, “I must tell you about this visit of a young boy to my office. He was a Gujarati Muslim bo, born and brought up in South Africa. He sought my help to set up a unit in the state. I spent 10 minutes with him and it did not appear to me that he had the wherewithal to set up business. I directed him to the collector of Vadodara. he turned up 13 months later with a invitation for the inauguration of a factory that he was associated with. The next time I saw him was three months later. I was told that he ws working with the Bombardier plant in Gujarat. They supply coaches to the Delhi Metro. In 19 months, he was part of an established business. That is the hassle-free governance can do to people.”

When asked about taking centre stage in BJP in 2014, Modi replied “I am busy making things better in Gujarat and 100% involved in it. I never spare time for issues outside Gujarat.”

Modi said “no comments” when asked about articles in the BJP and RSS mouthpieces criticizing him.

On his projection as PM candidate, Modi said, “you can ask this question in 10,000 different way, but my answer will be the same – I am only involved with governance in Gujarat.”

When asked about what BJP should do to become principal beneficiary of the popular resentment against the Congress, Modi replied that he agrees with the assessment that there is popular revulsion for the Congress, but what should be done would be discussed only in the party.

About criticism against his government even after the SIT clean chit, Modi said, it is an issue for a small group with vested interest for whom this is an industry. Modi asked where were these co called secularists when Indira Gandhi promised the rule of Bible in the Northeast and attempt to create a Hindu backlash in J&K during a general election? Modi further said, “I must point out that the past 10 years have been the first riot-free decade in the past 400 years since 1736.”

Replying to one of the questions Modi said, “what is the way to gauge popular mood? We have won the confidence of the people of Gujarat in 2002, 2004 parliamentary elections, 2005 local bodies election, 2007 assembly polls. 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2012 local bodies poll. ”

“Sonia Gandhi spearheaded her party’s campaign in 2007 and she had deployed 10 of her CMs in that election 0 which gave the BJP a record mandate,” Modi said in reference to Gujarat assembly poll when he was asked about his party’s strategy if the Congress tries to convert the next Lok Sabha election into a Modi versus Rahul Gandhi combat.

Full interview can be read on this link