Modi hails Gujarat model of development as 'saviour' of India

Says Gujarat model can certainly be implemented at the national level with the help of optimism and full of confidence

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre of making a mockery of India's premier investigation agency. He squarely blamed the UPA for the multi-crore scams that had dented India's image and warned of an uprising across the country against the government. He said people of the country want change.

In his hour-long speech at a function organised by the Indian Merchants' Chamber and All India Business Council, Modi came down heavily on the Centre for allegedly weakening the federal sanctity of the country.

Speaking in chaste Hindi, Modi said federal sanctity needs to be protected at any cost. A large number of people from business, trade and politics, besides socialites, had gathered to listen to the Gujarat CM.
 

He said the country could still salvage the damage it had suffered in the recent past to get back to a path of growth. "We can do it," he said.

"The Gujarat model can certainly be implemented at the national level with the help of optimism and full of confidence."

If Gujarat with a 60 million population could achieve spectacular growth in the past 12 years, the one billion-plus country could, too, he said. For that, India needs to focus on three things - skill, scale and speed - he added.

Besides, special care needs to be given to the agriculture sector, whose growth should be monitored. Manufacturing and services sectors, too, need to be nurtured, he said.

"Gujarat has achieved a 10 per cent growth in agriculture for a decade in contrast with 2-3 per cent at national level. Despite lack of minerals and mines, the state has become a leader in steel production. Plus, nine out of 10 diamonds are processed in Gujarat," said Modi.

The Gujarat CM, who had come to the city after addressing election meetings in poll-bound Karnataka, added that Gujarat's people-public-private participation (PPPP) model -- instead of the plain vanilla PPP model -- needs to be taken up at the national level to boost development.

"The 21 st century belongs to Asia. India has every chance to outsmart China by properly harnessing the youth power because 65 per cent of our population is young. Secondly, India can prosper by taking advantage of democracy. Thirdly, our justice delivery system is simple to understand, especially for trade and commerce unlike China's. Lastly, skill development can do wonders for India," said Modi.

He told the audience that the Centre has to accept and implement the Gujarat model of skill development in other parts of the country.

SIDELIGHTS

*Modi took a dig at Prime Minister saying he is seen but not heard
*Also attacked pessimistic attitude of political bosses
*Propogates transparency, good governance, coordination among departments and fixed tenure for bureaucracy
*Declares that he will pursue integrated approach of development
*Reiterates construction 182 meter tower of unity higher than tower of liberty in the memory of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel