Why India needs Narendra Modi?

[Roshanrocks]

By Suhel Seth | Source: The Financial Express Let me begin with a set of disclosures: I have perhaps written more articles against Modi and his handling of the post-Godhra scenario than most people have; I have called him a modern-day Hitler and have always said that Godhra shall remain an enduring blemish not just on him but on India’s political class. I still believe that what happened in Gujarat during the Godhra riots is something we as a nation will pay a heavy price for. But the fact is that time has moved on. As has Narendra Modi. He is not the only politician in India who has been accused of communalism. It is strange that the whole country venerates the Congress Party as the secular messiah but it was that party that presided over the riots in 1984 in which over 3,500 Sikhs died: thrice the number killed in Gujarat . The fact of the matter is that there is no better performer than Narendra Modi in India ’s political structure. Three weeks ago, I had gone to Ahmedabad to address the YPO and I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with Modi. I called him the evening before and I was given an appointment for the very day I was getting into Ahmedabad. And it was not some official meeting but instead one at his house. As frugal as the man Modi is. And this is something that the Gandhis and Mayawatis need to learn from Modi. There were no fawning staff members; no secretaries running around; no hangers on…just the two of us with one servant who was there serving tea. And what was most impressive was the passion which Modi exuded. The passion for development; the passion for an invigorated Gujarat ; the passion for the uplifting the living standards of the people in his state and the joy with which he recounted simple yet memorable data-points. For instance, almost all of the milk consumed in Singapore is supplied by Gujarat; or for that matter all the tomatoes that are eaten in Afghanistan are produced in Gujarat or the potatoes that Canadians gorge on are all farmed in Gujarat . But it was industry that was equally close to his heart. It was almost like a child, that he rushed and got a coffee table book on GIFT: the proposed Gujarat Industrial City that will come up on the banks of the Sabarmarti: something that will put the Dubais and the Hong Kongs of this world to shame. And while on the Sabarmati, it is Modi who has created the inter-linking of rivers so that now the Sabarmati is no longer dry. He then spoke about how he was very keen that Ratan Tata sets up the Nano plant in Gujarat: he told me how he had related the story of the Parsi Navsari priests to Ratan and how touched Ratan was: the story is, when the Navsari priests, (the first Parsis) landed in Gujarat, the ruler of Gujarat sent them a glass of milk, full to the brim and said, there was no place for them: the priests added some sugar to the milk and sent it back saying that they would integrate beautifully with the locals and would only add value to the state. Narendra Modi is clearly a man in a hurry and he has every reason to be. There is no question in any one’s mind that he is the trump card for the BJP after Advani and Modi realises that. People like Rajnath Singh are simply weak irritants I would imagine. He also believes that the country has no apolitical strategy to counter terrorism and in fact he told me how he had alerted the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the NSA about the impending bomb blasts in Delhi and they did not take him seriously. And then the September 13 blasts happened! It was this resolve of Modi’s that I found very admirable. There is a clear intolerance of terrorism and terrorists which is evident in the way the man functions; now there are many cynics who call it minority-bashing but the truth of the matter is that Modi genuinely means business as far as law and order is concerned. I left Modi’s house deeply impressed with the man as Chief Minister: he was clearly passionate and what’s more deeply committed. When I sat in the car, I asked my driver what he thought of Modi and his simple reply was Modi is God. Before him, there was nothing. No roads, no power, no infrastructure. Today, Gujarat is a power surplus state. Today, Gujarat attracts more industry than all the states put together. Today, Gujarat is the preferred investment destination for almost every multi-national and what’s more, there is an integrity that is missing in other states. After I finished talking to the YPO (Young President’s Organisation) members, I asked some of them very casually, what they thought of Modi. Strangely, this was one area there was no class differential on. They too said he was God. But what they also added very quickly was if India has just five Narendra Modis, we would be a great country. I don’t know if this was typical Gujarati exaggeration or a reflection of the kind of leadership India now needs! There is however, no question in my mind, that his flaws apart, Narendra Modi today, is truly a transformational leader! And we need many more like him! The writer is Managing Partner, Counselage

[straight.drive]

The author of the above article will be shouted down to submission by the politically correct loonies of the left for committing the cardinal sin(of not thrashing Modi). Gujaratis are a naturally enterprising and ambitious lot. This tendency itself is largely responsible for prosperity of Gujarat. Naredra modi had only a limited role behind success of gujarat

[suma25]

This is a pretty old article I think bossbhai or someone had posted it earlier .

[CSK Fan]

Money and prosperity is just one thing in life. there is also right and wrong. sooner or later his sins are going to catch up with him. Most probably once he loses his political power, he is going to be abandoned by his friends

[someone]

Money and prosperity is just one thing in life. there is also right and wrong. sooner or later his sins are going to catch up with him. Most probably once he loses his political power' date=' he is going to be abandoned by his friends[/quote'] ???

[fineleg]

NaMo cannot lead secular India.

[THX_1138]

I think the above article is too easy to absolve him of his crimes. Furthermore, suggesting that a mere 1000 died in the riots is unsubstantiated. But above all, while the article suggests that one must 'move on' and yet admonishes the current congress government for crimes committed under the governance of their predecessor of some 25 odd years. Narendra Modi has been a boon for industrialization, and he ought to be applauded. In fact, i would probably vote for him if i were eligible to, not because i forgive him, not because i support him, but he is certainly the lesser of the two (or rather the million odd) evils, and i know that he will keep the wheels of progress turning. Nevertheless, he needs to stand in court and answer for what he has done.

[kabira]

>>Nevertheless, he needs to stand in court and answer for what he has done. Hasnt he already done that. He was grilled by the committee.

[Clarke]

NaMo cannot lead secular MONARCHY of India.

Fixed .. Rahul baba should inherit the throne :--D

[THX_1138]

>>Nevertheless, he needs to stand in court and answer for what he has done. Hasnt he already done that. He was grilled by the committee.

not a court. the judicial arm of the government must be independent of the legislative for any acceptable level of transparency.

[youngindia]

another strategically incompetent cretin who does not understand the strategic implications of the hindutva ideology. he does not understand that for the sangh parivar, communalism is an ideology and a way of life. hence you cannot compare it to other parties. public hatred and riots are not acceptable in any civlised society.and ideas like " muslim men can be killed and muslim women can be raped" only works well with hard communalists and condoned by soft communalists. others are not going to let murder pass by. the problem is with the whole hindutva system.communalism as well casteism characterises the whole system. how can it fit into multi culturalism and democracy? you have already seen how political islam and multiculturalism are totally incompatible.(india vs pakistan,west vs islamic world). neither modi or the hindutva system is remotely acceptable.

[Sir john]

no need of modi to lead india,shivraj is far better than him.