The Hindu : Gujarat, a gateway to prosperity: Modi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 02, 2003

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National

Gujarat, a gateway to prosperity: Modi

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE Aug. 1. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, said here today his State was a "gateway to prosperity" and that there was a need to look ahead even while doing a post-mortem on the riots.

He was on a visit to the city to participate in the Tamil Nadu BJP's rath yatra celebrations.

Mr. Modi told presspersons that a "global meet" to showcase a vibrant Gujarat and the investment opportunities it offered would be held from September 25 to October 5. The events during the 11-day meet would range from seminars on infrastructure, energy and port development, rural economy and holistic healthcare and business meets on gems, jewellery and garments.

On October 4, a seminar on disaster management would be held at the quake-affected Bhuj.

"The entire event would be a combination of trade and tradition, commerce and culture. A dance festival to mark Navarathri has also been organised to showcase Gujarat's culture to the NRIs and the chiefs of foreign missions had been invited to the event".

Mr. Modi refused comment on the demand for shifting the riots probe out of Gujarat. When mediapersons pointed out to doubts expressed by the National Human Rights Commission and others on the ability of the criminal justice system in Gujarat to hold a fair trial, he said, "I have respect for these democratic institutions.

``So, I will not comment. It is the judiciary that is handling the case and not the Chief Minister".

Mr. Modi also refused comment on the acquittal of the accused in the Best Bakery Case.

To a charge before the Commission by one of the witnesses that he was responsible for the riots, Mr. Modi replied, "Let the Commission decide."

About the situation in his State, he said: "We had a peaceful election and a rath yatra. We have also done an excellent work in rehabilitating the riot-affected."

On how the minorities viewed his Government, Mr. Modi said "the Government is for five-crore Gujaratis, of five-crore Gujaratis and by five-crore Gujaratis in the State. There is no minority-majority division. Together we will develop Gujarat".

Asked whether he condemned the riots, Mr. Modi said, "I am eager that it should not happen anywhere. But no one should set fire to a train." Was the attack on the Swaminarayan temple a fallout of the riots? "Then what about the terrorist attack on Parliament," he asked.

Reacting to the Tamil Nadu Congress unit's opposition to his Coimbatore visit, Mr. Modi asked: "The daughter of Italy can travel anywhere in the country. But the son of India cannot move around in the country. Is it not ridiculous?"

On the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's view that a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya, Mr. Modi said he respected Ms. Jayalalithaa "for her bold steps".

On the possibility of a BJP-AIADMK alliance, he said that only the State BJP would handle it but "we will cross the bridge when we come to it".

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