Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Gujarat’s firebrand Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the vote-bank politics has ruined the country and the nation now needs development politics.
Gujarat BJP leader also mesmerized a vast gathering of students at the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) by appealing to the youths to make India a global brand.
"The solution to all problems is development. The whole nation has been destroyed by vote bank politics, what it needs is development. If there is developement there is much scope for a lot of improvement in the nation," Modi said.
“India must learn from global examples to become a global leader. The 21st century belongs to us. We just need to rebrand our country,” said Modi, who was later given a standing ovation for his inspiring speech..
Praising the development model of his state, the Gujarat BJP leader pitched for good governance as the model that will make India an economically developed nation.
Delivering a key note address as part of the Business Conclave being organised by the SRCC, the BJP leader said, “Good governance has been the hallmark of Gujarat’s development and it has to be the hallmark for India too, if it has to make its presence felt at the global level.”
“Even after six decades of independence, we have yet not achieved the concept of Swaraj- a dream cherished by Mahatma Gandhi. We need to harness the vast natural resources of the country and the untapped potential of our youths while making good governance as the main stay of our economic growth to achieve the goals of Swaraj,” he said.
Calling for an integrated approach in the concept of governance and development, Modi said, “Our biggest challenge is to utilize the opportunities available to us to its fullest potential.”
Calling on the youths to come forward and participate in the process of the nation building, Modi said, “There is an environment of pessimism in the country, which needs to end. We need to be optimistic.”
Displaying his excellent oratory skills, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, “Europe and China are ageing but India is a nation of youths. But our biggest challenge is to make the maximum use of the youth power.
“The youth should not be looked upon as mere new-age voters,” he said,
Packaging his speech with wit and humour he said, “India is no longer a nation of snake charmers. We have now become mouse-charmers (referring to India’s growth in the computer software development).”
Picking up a glass of water, he said an optimist would say the glass is half full, while a pessimist would say it is half empty.
"I have a third point of view. For me the glass is always full -- half with water and half with air. We can turn over the situation," he said.
Recalling the success story of his state, “We have worked hard to transform Gujarat into one of India’s most developed state. You may have heard about Vibrant Gujarat summit. We worked very hard for it. You read of Vibrant Gujarat Summit but that is held for two days once in two years. Every year, we hold Krishi Mahotsav.”
“Gujarat was a desert state, we depend on rains. In the past 10 years, the state has shown 10 % plus growth in agriculture. We are not a poor country. We are rich in natural resources. We just need to utilize them for an equitable growth,” he said.
The BJP leader’s visit to the college has invited protests in the campus by Leftist students group.
Members of the Left leaning All India Students Federation (AISF) are demonstrating outside the college to protest against Modi’s visit to the college. Scores of students, who have gathered outside the SRCC, are raising slogans of ''Narendra Modi Go Away''. The protesting students say that they are against Gujarat's development model.
Members of the BJP-backed National Democratic Teachers' Front (NDTF) have gathered to welcome Modi and raising slogans in praise of the Gujarat Chief Minister.
First Published: Wednesday, February 06, 2013, 08:37