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Modi compares Gujarat to Japan, China
The "junior most" chief minister appealed to NRIs to make 'Made in India' the new buzzword, reports Sajjan S Thakur.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi declared that he wished to compare his state with Germany, Japan and China, and not with Indian states, "which were way behind".
The remarks come in the wake of a FICCI report, which put Gujarat among the elite group of states, with over seven per cent growth rate.
Speaking at an interactive session of states at the PBD 2006 on Sunday, Modi was his unusual self - calm, composed, humble and seemed to agree with other speakers' views that "we are not here to criticise each other, but to work in harmony."
Maintaining that "I am the most junior among the CMs," Modi recounted the achievements of "transparent and progressive governance" in Gujarat.
Known for his vitriolic remarks, the event may have been an antithesis for his listeners, who are used to sound and fury, whenever Modi opens his mouth.
"Wherever you go, please do something for an Indian state of your choice, so that in the 21st century, 'Made in India' should be the buzzword, instead of 'Made in China'," Modi appealed to the diaspora.
On a larger view, he announced that Indian villages would not be allowed to be a market for multinationals. "In fact, I will ensure that the farmers of Gujarat will make the world a market for themselves," he said.
The state has received four major international awards during the last two years — the World Bank's Green Award, UN-ISDR Sasakawa Award for Outstanding Work in Disaster Management, the Gold Award by Commonwealth Association for the Initiatives and Innovations undertaken in Governance, and the UNESCO-Asia Pacific Heritage Award.
