The declaration came with Jain religious leader Naypadmasagarji Maharajsaheb ‘blessing’ Advani as the next Prime Minister and Modi as his home minister at the inaugural ceremony of the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) Global Summit, 2009 on Saturday. Top Gujarat-based Jain corporate honchos like Gautam Adani of Adani Group and Sudhir Mehta of Torrent shared the dais with Advani.

The support to Advani by the Jain community, which has a strong grip over trade and commerce all over the country, is considered to be quite significant. With Gujarat accounting for the highest percentage of Jain population in the country, Saturday’s announcement is likely to help Advani fight his detractors in the party.

“Jodi bahut achchi hai” (it is a good combination), said the Jain leader. He said Advani and Modi could together change the face of the country. He also mentioned Modi’s various achievements including the Nano deal.

This is the first time the JITO summit has been held in Gujarat although the event is in its fourth year. It has been held in the state at the insistence of Modi himself. Gujarat is likely to benefit from this summit with scores of Jain businessmen from different parts of the country and abroad converging in the state to attend their community conclave. They will also get a chance to explore the possibilities of setting up industries in a state where Jains have been enjoying considerable leverage and dominating the industrial scene.

Speaking on the occasion, Advani stressed on the need to change the ‘ugly face of Indian politicians’ due to corruption and appreciated the Narendra Modi government for being ‘corruption-free’. He even called it an example that other states should follow. He asked the gathering of Jain industrialists to be careful of Satyam-like scams because it has brought ignominy to Indian industry. He uttered Mahatma Gandhi’s famous line, “business without ethics is a sin”.

Saying that the government must take a tough stand against terrorism and show ‘zero tolerance’ towards this menace, Advani drew a parallel between violence and global warming. He said environmental pollution and climatic change due to global warming are also a form of violence that needs to be tackled urgently.

Modi recited a couplet, “Maana ki andhera ghana hai, magar diya jalana kahaan mana hai” (I accept there is total darkness all around, but where is the ban on lighting a lamp?). He said it was possible to achieve one’s target through consistency and bring about changes in the existing circumstances. He said he held his ground despite being questioned about the wisdom of organising a global investors’ summit in this period of meltdown. The overwhelming response for the summit is for everyone to see, he said.