Press Trust of India Posted online: Sunday, April 09, 2006 at 1825 hours IST Updated: Monday, April 10, 2006 at 0709 hours IST
Surat, April 9: Overwhelmed by the crowds Chief Minister Narendra Modi organised for him during the course of his "Bharat Suraksha Yatra" in its Gujarat leg, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Sunday sang paeans for him and said he had made the state a role model for others to emulate in governance and development.
"I can think of no other example in Indian politics of a leader who, after being subjected to a malicious and prolonged campaign of vilification, has been able to impress even his critics with his determination, single-minded focus, integrity and a wide array of achievements in a relatively short time, he told a press meet in Surat on the last day of his journey in the state.
In an apparent attempt not to offend anti-Modi dissidents in the party's state unit, the Leader of Opposition also acknowledged former Chief Minister and Modi's arch-rival Keshubhai Patel's contributions to Gujarat's development.
What is remarkable is that the Gujarat Governments achievements, first under Kesubhai Patel and now under Modi, have not only impressed captains of industry but also touched the lives of tribals, kisans, women, self-employed youth and the middle class, he said.
Advani's Yatra had received a fairly good response despite the scorching sun prompting his critics to state that people had come to listen to Modi, who continues to be the party's main crowd-puller in the state.
