Diamond traders send silver and cash to Modi

BJP's PM candidate says India will take a giant leap in nine months

He probably couldn't have been weighed in diamonds, but the Mumbai Diamond Merchants' Association (MDMA) did the next best thing as a show of support to Narendra Modi.

The association donated 80 kg of silver and Rs 40 lakh to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate. Modi was quick enough to clarify the donation was not for him but for a statue of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel.

In his first meeting in Mumbai after being elevated to the new position, Modi gave a glimpse of his oratorical skills. What brought the house down was his remarks: "You have to make the country shine like diamonds. You polished a lot of diamonds. Now it is time to make the country shine." He shared the stage with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray whom he referred to as "my younger brother".

Modi said there was an eclipse over the country but in exactly nine months, the country would start crossing one hurdle after another.

"India is set to take a giant leap in terms of economic growth in nine months from now," he added.

Addressing diamond traders at the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) after inaugurating the third 'Diamond Hall' of the MDMA, Modi said: "Indian citizens have lost confidence in each other. When an SMS is sent, the sender confirms with the receiver. Similarly, when a daughter leaves home for office, we confirm from the office whether she has reached or not. We are living in a situation where the confidence of the common man and global businessmen has shattered completely," he said.

"For the last nine years, India's economic growth has come to a standstill. In the last four years, the economy has gone into ICU (intensive care unit). The rupee is in hospital," he added.

Attacking the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Modi said the present government has lost control on everything including economy, which has spoilt India's image. The government, he said, has control only on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and income tax (IT). "Tonight, they (I-T officials) will see the video (of the speech) -- who shook hands with Modi, who garlanded Modi, who welcomed Modi. Then there will be a list, where should the raids start?"

He, then, turned the focus on himself, saying how he was demonised. "You go to Google and type my name and take the printout of whatever has been written and you can fill this hall. So many curses and so many false accusations have been flung on me, but the people of the country have not abandoned me," said Modi.