Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi, who completed nine years in office, earned two
distinctive anti and pro groups outside the state during his
rule, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.
Modi completed nine years in the office today to become
the longest serving chief minister of the state.
He had taken over as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7,
2010 replacing Keshubhai Patel.
"In the last nine years of Modi`s rule those outside the
state are divided into two distinct groups one who are against
him and others who are praising the all round development of
the state," Jaitely said.
Jaitley was referring to criticism after 2002 post-Godhra
riots in the state.
"The state faced some severest criticism in the last
nine years under the rule of Modi and hefty praises from the
likes of Ratan Tata who said it would be foolish if you are
not in Gujarat," Jaitley said yesterday addressing a public
meeting here.
In spite of all the criticism, the leadership here was
determined to take the progress of the state to new heights
and they have done it, he said.
"I would like to thank people of Gujarat as well as
the country on today`s occasion. Amidst many challenges and
roadblocks, natural calamities, political intolerance and
untouchability, BJP government has completed nine years of
rule here and has entered the tenth year", Modi said.
"This decade has been a decade of progress of the
state," Modi said.
In a release issued here by Gujarat Government on
achievements of Modi in the last nine years, said he has
been the chief minister who has converted adversities into
opportunities and weaknesses into strengths.
Modi has succeeded in promoting meritocracy in the
state, growth with discipline and has turned Gujarat into
global business hub, it said.
"I am working for laying the foundation of golden
Gujarat, stronger Gujarat and a glorious Gujarat," Modi was
quoted as saying in the press note.
PTI