Thursday, August 16, 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister unfurls national flag at state-level Independence Day at Junagadh


“Prime Minister has disappointed Indians on every front, has lost faith”

“Gujarat leads the state from Swaraj to Surajya for nation to follow”

– Narendra Modi



Ahmedabad, Wednesday: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that what Gujarat has done during the last ten years to show Pro-people Proactive Good Governance (P2G2) as a model for the nation to follow, the Prime Minister of India has miserably failed to do so.



Addressing this year’s state-level function to mark the 66th Independence Day at Junagadh, Mr. Modi said that India attained Swaraj (Self-Rule) but not Surajya (Good Governance). It was every Indian’s dream for good governance but unfortunately it remained unfulfilled. Gujarat could take several steps for good governance due to political stability and establish its identity as a Good Governed State. Had India also taken the path towards good governance, it would have would have become a prosperous nation by now.



Banking on ‘Panch Shakti’, he said that Gujarat has built a strong edifice having changed its face, creating a fresh band of ITI trained youth for technical jobs, particularly the face of Saurashtra and Kutch. Ten years back, he recalled the region lacked any activity because of its brackish water problem, suffered from minus growth and people migrated to settle in other regions for livelihood. It used to be a haven for smugglers, arms mafia and anti-national activities. Today, the region has become a ‘coastal gateway to development’, with modern coastal cities like ‘Dholera’ under the aegis of Coastal Development Authority and under the protection of Marine Coastal Police on the anvil.



Mr. Modi took strong exception to Prime Minister creating obstacles for Gujarat to invite foreign investment and industries. Within his constitutional limits, he posed questions to the Prime Minister to explain the latter’s failures to fulfill his promises of interest free education loan, low-interest loan to the poor and middle class for housing, and electricity connection to every house during the last eight years.



He sent several such posers to the Prime Minister as: “What is his alibi for pushing the nation back to an era of darkness? What has happened to his assurance of fighting malnutrition? What has he done to check infiltration of Bangladeshis and to pacify Indians boiling with anger in Assam? How could India progress with such a low growth rate?”



At a meeting of National Development Council, Mr. Modi had suggested to the Prime Minister to start a nationwide skill development mission to upgrade the skill of youth in different trades to compete with China, but he did nothing while Gujarat has trained 66,000 youth and provided better jobs in a month. He exuded confidence that Gujarat’s youth with their skill, intelligence and efficiency would showcase a model state to the world.



Similarly, he pointed out, the Central Government has no plan to fight drought while Gujarat has undertaken the task of changing the manual being followed from the time of British rule and a new strategy to provide water, food and fodder to the drought-hit.



Mr. Modi on this occasion felicitated freedom fighters Kanak Upadhyay, Labhshankar Dave, Chhelbhai Pathak, Nathuji Rathod, Manu Joshi, Pratap Pathak and Chandu Dave.



Prominent among others present on the occasion included Minister Kanubhai Bhalala, legislators Mahendra Mashru, Bhagwan Kargathia, Vandanaben Makwanaand Rajshi Jotwa; leading citizen Madhabhai Boria; District Panchayat President Diviben Baria; ex-Minister Ratibhai Sureja, Bhavnaben Chikhalia, Niruben Kambalia and Bharti Bapu, Chief Secretary A.K. Joti, DGP Chittaranjan Singh, Senior Secretaries S. K. Nanda, Bhagyesh Jha, Vipul Mitra, Commissioner of Information V. Thiruppugazh, Collector Manish Bharadwaj, Municipal Commissioner Vipra Bhal, Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr N.C. Patel, besides a large number of college directors, students and public.

Competitiveness, climate, security Finn’s priorities Ministry of Finance release Finnish road map of EU presidency. Finland i...