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Modi, who chose to bring over his image change mid-way of his five-year term, has already held at least 25 of the 50 'Garib Kalyan Melas' in the state where he claims have given benefits of various government schemes to poor people directly without involvement of any middlemen.
However, Opposition Congress has strongly criticised this shift from "pro-rich" to "pro-poor".
"The attempt by orgainsing such Garib Kalyan Melas is surely of image makeover from being called pro-rich to pro-poor, but the Chief Minister will not succeed in it. He is trying to follow Rahul Gandhi but people know BJP's truth," Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.
"The poor people have traditionally voted for Congress while the vote bank of BJP is upper class. The Chief minister is trying to woo poor people by organising such tamasha," senior Congress leader Arjun Modhvadia said.
The Opposition in the state had mounted a concerted attack on Modi during the 2007 state election campaign and also in the run up to 2008 Lok Sabha elections calling him a 'CEO Chief Minister' working for benefits of industrialists and ignoring the poor.
Congress leaders have also submitted an memorandum to Governor Dr Kamala saying that the Modi government was cheating poor people by organising such melas as they would have received the benefits anyway.
Modhavia said that Modi should have done this by sitting in his office "but he is going to district and villages for publicity."
However, Modi in his speech at most of these melas has said , "Rajiv Gandhi had said that if Centre releases one rupee the beneficiary gets only 10 paisa. I am organising such melas to give direct benefit to poor people by handing over one rupee in such functions by going to their doors".
Garib Kalyan Melas are being organised by the Gujarat government in remote villages and towns in which poor people who are eligible to get the benefits of government schemes are directly given financial assistance by Modi.
State BJP president R C Faldu said, "Congress has stooped low by making such statements on Garib Kalyan Melas through which Gujarat Chief Minister is doing his duty to serve poor people of the state".
He also denied that Modi is going for a image makeover by such melas.
"From the start, Gujarat government and Modiji has never discriminated between different sections of the society. This is no image change programme," Faldu clarified.
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Modiji is the only leader at present who can lead the country to prosperity and restore the well deserved dignity of our Mother land in the world standing. I am not sure who is Sonia Maino (how she is congs president, after all). Who is she to the people of India. Again who is Raul vinchi. They are fooling the country. They belong to the religion, which Robert Vadra belongs to. And they don't represent the India. India needs another independence, and this time from this family. Any Indian with self conscience should not accept them. All patriots, mother land needs you to take the right decision to dispel the hidden agenda with which the divisive external forces are working in disguise through these foreign entities in congress. Is there no Indian leader to lead congress?? Jai Hind. I love my India. Be a patriot.
After 40 years of negative politics, bjp realised that they annot fool HIndus by talking abt JEHAD, HINDUTVA, MANDIR-MASJI, therefore, modiji & other bjp CMs started talking abt 'DEVELOPEMENT'. After all, it is good for the country. This move leads the country towards 2 party politics. All regional parties will be thrown & only cong, communist & bjp(if talk developement) will remain in Indian politics. Still leaders like mayavati, mulayam, lalu, paswan, biju janta dal, jaylalitha are in politics due to illitracy in the country. Guj is among developed state since its existance & credit must be go to all the previous CMs of Guj. Modiji is just enjoying good results of his predecessors.
Unlike the Communists, the BJP has always been pro-development. Much as you may hate to accept, it was BJP's Hindutwa and Mandir-Masjid cards and Advani's rath- Yathra which propelled the BJP to become a national party which remained a 2-MP entity despite the much touted Vajpayee's charisma and "moderate" face. The country had seen the maximum development during the time of the NDA government compared to the 50 years' Congress rule prior to that. As for Gujarat state, the state saw the maximum development after Modi took over as the CM in October 2001, better than the earlier BJP governments. Therefore, it is not Modi who needs the image make-over, but his detractors and critics who need an introspection about their perceptions.
brother N.V.Sankaran, ur comment is based on biased. Twice loss of LS elections made bjp leaders to talk abt 'developement'. As far as developement during NDA was just the result (fruits) of economic reforms imlemented by Dr. MMS when he was FM in PVNRao cabinet. It is well-known by every Indian that bjp has no knowledge of economics. FYI, I am Gujarati & pls note that Kandla port, GSFC, GNFC, IPCL, GAIL, ONGC, AMUL are in existance b4 40 years when modiji was 'tea kettal boy' on Vadnagar Rly. station. Rajiv Gandhi, Ahmed Patel & Chiman Patel's efforts made work easy for bjp. 20 yrs bjp rule in Guj made textile mills closed which were established b4 100 years.
Real Bharathiya, The entire media had acknowledged that development under NDA government was phenomenal and they had all predicted the NDA's victory(sort of landslide victory) in the 2004 Parliamentary elections. True, the globalization process was initiated by Man Mohan Singh under Narasimha Rao's premiership, and probably gave the foundation for the NDA government's development programmes . But, it does not diminish the NDA achievement. The only reason why they lost the 2004 elections was the stigma related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. And as for bias, nobody in this world is truly unbiased. Every person's perceptive is based on his/her family background, the society around him/her, the contents of what he reads etc. Therefore, if I am biased, you are more biased against the BJP and Modi.
Real Bhartiya has a quick quality of commenting and forgetting things. The growth Gujarat is seeing is not the brick and mortar one. It is a high tech and ever lasting one. Currently Brand Gujarat is on making, which unfortunately you might not realize as you are still living in the ages of Kandla...It is the era of Mundra, Pipavav, Dahej, Hazira and many others.
Whatever Mr. Narendra Modi is doing is for Nation and for the future of Gujarat. As a common Man we can see him as a leader India require.... Their decision and action consists vision and Planning rather than dirty politics. I strated reading political news after Modi comes in Gujarat. Hope we can see him as a PM.
I simply cant understand how can this writer can blindly tell that Modi was pro-rich initially. Is raising farmers total income across state from 9000 crore to 36000 Crore, steady increase year by year starting from 2002, is it pro-rich? Is infrastructure works keeps going from 2002 in each 25Km sq Km area, so that thousands of workers get work is pro-rich?? Is school children got nutrified aattta, milk in their mid day meal is pro rich, is poor woman in interior area got free treatment and child birth at nearest private maternity home is pro rich ? the list is very long, reply back if you want more such schemes. But for the god's shake first do some research before writing anything against anyone , else accept that you are paid journo.............
I am started liking this leader. has vision and also he can play against the dirty politics played in full glory by Rahul and Mama. If Modi visits and tour around Gujarat with Garib Kalyan Mela it is not correct for media, but if Rahul travels in second class with full NSA and the entire Maharashtra police in standby it is courage. But no one had questioned the constitutional right for a party general secretary to spend for the city tour. For 6 hours tour it must have cost 10 crores (less 10 rupees for traveling in second class between Andheri and Dadar). What a way of austerity when prices are shooting up for essential goods. If the opposing leaders can sit across the table in a TV studio, we can save money and also easy understanding of the viewpoints. Media is having that responsibility to bring them across a table.
You did not mention the Maharashtra minister who accompanied him carrying Rahul's shoes. This was shown on the Headlines Today news channel.
Modi is a man of his word no one can deny that; the fact, Gujarat where it is today is because of Modi in control. And he is right when he is supporting the Industrialist in Gujarat; this is one of the best ways to overcome unemployment the more you support and groom the industries to come and work in Gujarat the more people gets job directly/indirectly resulting in reduce of unemployment and this is the trick. Eg: Tata Nano Plant in Sanand (Tata has a huge man power requirement once they are all set to roll with their Sanand Production unit, all thanks to Mr. Modi) Going to meet poor people and listening to their problems for a few hours in not the solution, Modi is working to uplift them and he is right. Modi in his speech has said, "Rajiv Gandhi had said that if Centre releases one rupee the beneficiary gets only 10 paisa. I am organising such melas to give direct benefit to poor people by handing over one rupee in such functions by going to their doors". Well Done Mr. Modi
For the people living in other part of the country, Honorable CM Modi might be CEO but for us in Gujarat he is the only CM who WORKS. What ever he does is for future of Gujarat. So i vote for him.
India would become the biggest importer of cow & human dung & urine products under the leadership of these mentaly retired leaders of BJP.While others countries import good things from abroad, they (BJP) imported Let & Al-Qaida thinking from Pakistan, Afghanistan & Somalia like countries.
No one can logically quash what Mr.NM has done for his state and its people. Ever since he has taken over the seat of Gujarat CM, his endeavour has always been to lift the face of that state and the social upliftment of its population particularly in education, employment & food prices. From this, one can prudently reach a conclusion that Mr.NM is the most versatile & sagacious statesman India has produced after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. None of his actions has ever been after vote bank politics unlike many of our ministers luxuriously living at Indraprastha. Indians must wake up to ensure that one day we all Indians would be lucky to have Mr.NM on the chair of India's PM by the Grace of Almighty God. At that time our nation will become a true Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.
The Kanya Kelavani Nidhi, was created for educating the girl children in Gujarat some time in 2001. The Congress found that if Modi was allowed to continue with such pro-people activities, it would become difficult to defeat him in a decent democratically fought election.Therefore, it is possible that some Gujarat Congress leaders conspired to instigate the minorities to burn the train bogey at Godhra station, fully knowing that they could capitalize from the massive backlash by the Hindus. And there were also reports that several people belonging to the Congress party also had a role in the post-Godhra riots.
Sir, while our people slept without food and proper shelter, then BJP (when it was in power) leaders were dining and sleeping at nine star hotels, and theie bills were paid by the tax payers.They ate nine course meals while the children of India slept without food,they ate aspro while they wanted the poor to eat coe and dung tablets.They drank coca cola, but they wanted the poor to drinh urine cola, they ate biscuits, but wanted the poor to eat cow or human dung biscuits, and now they claim to help the poor? Are they making a fool out of the poor?
Mr. Rajkumar and Mr. Roy, Why do you get so much upset when the CM is trying to do some good to the people of his state? According to a report in the Economic times dt. 20th January, Modi%u2019s office has collected Rs 23 crore in the past five years just from his public functions. A large chunk of these funds have been diverted to Kanya Kelavani Nidhi, created for educating the girl children in Gujarat. While a major part of the sum comes from donations, considerable amounts are also raised from auctioning gift articles which Modi has received. A part of the collections also goes to the CM%u2019s Relief Fund, which saw inflow to the tune of Rs 104 crore ever since Modi took over the reins. A lot of scholarships to bright girl students and bonds worth Rs 1,000 each to help support the education of lakhs of girls have come out of this fund. Even the Kerla ex-CPI(M) MP, himself a Muslim, had earlier asked that all Indian politicians should emulate Modi's development model.
and as an ardent admirer of this individual & the party he represents perhaps you have found him endearing. Good for you...the community you represent. Please do not give an example of a Communist given kudos to this person...it was my personal opinion about the individual & it stays.
Mr. Roy, you don't have to take my words. Please keep an open mind and read what Mr. Amitabh Bachan had to say.In a recent blog, superstar Mr. Amitabh Bachan had said,"Mr Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat, lives simply and with mere basic needs and most unlike the head of a State. He speaks with affection on development and progress. He is welcoming to fresh ideas and ideals. His oft repeated phrase of him being a CM, a common man, is not misunderstood. He does and acts as he speaks." Everybody knows that Mr. Bachan was a close confidant of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi and a close friend of Mr. Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party, a party which has always been one of the severest critics of Modi. Mr. Bachan is never known to have any soft corner for BJP or Mr. Modi. After this blog, I found Mr. Bachan pathetically trying to wriggle out of his comments during an interview with NDTV, saying that he was %u201Cendorsing only Gujarat and not Modi%u201D for fear of being dubbed as a %u201Ccommunal Hindu fanatic%u201D by the secular media and parties. One would argue that Mr. Bachan is a businessman and by praising Mr. Modi, he was only expressing his gratitude to the Gujarat government for granting tax exemption to his film%u201DPAA%u201D. If that is the case, then, I would say that Mr. Modi is more honest than Mr. Bachan since the Gujarat government still keeps him (Mr. Bachan) the brand ambassador of the state despite his not-so-charitable remarks against Mr. Modi during the NDTV interview.
Sir, it is like decorating camels ass with lipstick.This person 8Modi) has not only ruined our Hindu image, but blotted the whole of India in the entire world, but now he pretends to be the 'devta of poor' whom his BJP earlier looted trough various scams.
BJP should explain to whole country why that paty is allowing a Chief Minister to hold such expensive functions while the people have given a very clear mandate and given a big job to BJP party to provide proper rule. Why that show and tamasha. Are you true beliver of gods? Also explain why District Collectors and officials are falling on the feet of Mr Narendra Modi ???? It is puzzling since I thought only parties which has little respect and responsibility towards the people who voted them like Mayawatis, Jayalalithas have a propensity to do this. BJP which formed the party under the sole message of departing from the ways of Congress Culture - has miserably failed.
You Andha supporter of Congressee, cannot understant the simple message of giving one rupee direct to the poor people, not ten paise thro middlemen congrssies. You donnot remember supply of two cows promised by Italy Fake Rajkumar to a farmer family in Maharashtra, who got through congress middleman, a cow instead of two, who was eating more and giving less milk.
What then Mr.Rahul is doing? Who is bearing the cost involved in his journey in chartered flight with securitites? Is it not a image making excercise? Here Modi is doing a government level function...
given to this mediocre individual who panders to the rich & now taking a cue out of the Gandhi who interacts with the down trodden without being prodded. This extreme right wing party...berfit of ideas & policies...follow precedents set by others & yet the apes have the nerve to criticize. Very true...it is a party who panders to the rich...imagine a certain actor given tax rebates whilst hard working people are forced to pay taxes. Some leader this Modi bloke...
Congress is terribly afraid of Modi catapulting the Congress calculation of garibi-hatao slogan by actually rendering help to Garibi people directly without the intervention of middlemen. That is why the opposition. Otherwise what is their grievance if the poor people are benefited even if the exercise is image makeover proposition?
Who has given this comment,he wants to fool public.This is why industrilization is the only way of improving the standard of live which is well done by modi.