Whenever I discuss about Narendra Modi (Chief Minister,Gujarat), the 1^st thing that most of the people talk is about 2002 riots.It has been almost 7 years, but still the mindset hasn’t changed.

Narendra Modi has been constantly innovating for improving the efficiency and productivity in various sectors. One such innovative step isthe decision to involve private sector for development of huge wastelands.Another innovative step is celebration of traditional festivals, and covert them into events of major tourist attraction. In a mobile world in order to make citizens really mobile, roaming ration cards and roaming school cards have been introduced. Provision of soil health cards to the farmers is another innovation to help farmers improve the land quality and ultimately agricultural productivity. “Sujalam Sufalam” scheme launched to create a grid of water resources in Gujarat is another innovative step towards water conservation andits appropriate utilization. He made an attempt to correct the imbalance in development by focusing appropriately on social sectors, integrating social and economic growth. In his rule, he has ensured all round performance in all areas including agriculture, rural development, education and industrial development.

He had organized a training session for ministers andbureaucrats at IIM, A. “In Modi, we have a combination of grand vision,administrative capabilities and popular support. If villagers see him as theirleader, corporate see him as a CEO” says Bakul Dholakia, Ex-Chairman, IIM-A.

He believes in the RACE formula

Low Risk

Alertness

Low Cost

High Efficiency

Few of his achievements

The last Vibrant Gujarat : Global Investor’s Summit in 2007saw the signing of 675 memorandums of understanding worth Rs. 4.6 trillion,which generated employment of around 1.27 million people. Investments of $ 250bn, even in these hard times is a great achievement in itself. The US and EU still deny him a Visa, but the summit saw representatives from a dozen Muslim Countries

The average processing time for completing the procedures is90 to 180 days, but made it complete in just 3 days for Nano (Small Car) project.

As against the growth rate of 10.2% in the past 5 years, the Planning commission says Gujarat’s target is 11.2% for next 5 years. The2008-09 projection is 13%, way above the national target. It is aiming to achieve an annual industrial growth rate of 14.5 – 15% for the next five years,in order to achieve overall target of 11.2%” says Saurab Patel (Ministry ofState of Industry and Energy). The new policy has focused on SMEs growth so that they come to the forefront with products that ranks top in quality. That’s why “Made in Gujarat” is being emphasized”

GIFT (Gujarat International Finance – Tech) city located at Gandhinagar will be one of the world’s largest and most modern financial hubs.It is a public private partnership basically designed to kick Mumbai in the FDI balls and establish itself as a world player. It will have 312 tall buildings

Japan has come forward as a partner country to Gujarat onthe basis of the state’s reputation, strength and credibility. With Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the state's 1,600-km coastline, Special Investors Regions (SIRs) and optimum logistic support system projects, Gujarat is now the gateway to development and excellence

Gujarat Green Revolution Company started with Rs. 1500crores, ushering in a revolution in water conservation and increase in farming area. Rs. 239 crores have been spent in the last three years under the watershed program.

With gas reserves of Rs. 2 lakh crores, in theKrishna-Godavari basin, Gujarat has become the Petrocapital of the nation. 2200kilometres of gas grid - longest in the country. 100% electricity in rural areas only in Gujarat; revolution in rural economy - 12000 villages covered under Jyotigram Yojna.

He has provided housing to 46,263 Below poverty Line Familiesat the cost of Rs. 13672.94 lakhs. 7,316 kms of rural road network, the best in the country.

To ensure that no girl childremains illiterate, 3 lakh students have been enrolled under Kanya KelavaniRath Yatra and Praveshotsav Abhiyaan. He brushed aside the objections of Vidya Bharati, a Sangh Parivar outfit, to teaching English in schools, saying, '' If you have be globally competitive, you have to learn the language the world uses to do business.''

Critics

But Modi's critics remain unimpressed. Fr. Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit and civil rights activist, says, '' The projection of a vibrant Gujaratis a bluff based on lies, half-truths and illusions . The state presided overthe killing of hundreds of Muslims in 2002. Right-wing Hindu groups put up billboards in Gujarat proclaiming a Hindu Rashtra”. But there are few things that proves this critics wrong. Modi didn’t mind taking the VHP, when he ordered the demolition of nearly 250 illegal temples in Gandhinagar. He even critized the state’s farmers who were stealing electricity and he took actionson the powerful RSS backed Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. He brushed aside theobjections of Vidya Bharati, a Sangh Parivar outfit, by teaching English in schools. Do you still thing he is working as a “Hindu”?

I don’t deny the fact, what happened in Gujarat in 2002 was wrong, but as a resident of Ahmedabad, I always give a second that it was required. But as the old quote says “Forget the past, Live in the present and think of the future”, we should all forget what happened in 2002 as it has become history now

The industrialists have been appreciating him, which has been said as Political gimmick. But, he has proved himself worth appreciating

It’s time for everyone to rethink that is he really the so called “Maut ka Saudaagar” or he is one of the best CM India had till now