UPA is only passing time in office: Modi

BANGALORE: At BJP's national executive, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has been at the centre of action, delivering a much-noticed speech to his colleagues and leading a sharp attack on the government's handling of internal security. TOI asked Modi about the media projecting him as a BJP mascot, a rung below L K Advani.

Q: Don't you feel your work in Gujarat is almost over and it is time you moved to the national scene?

A: As far as a chief minister is concerned, he is part of national politics, whether he is from Gujarat or elsewhere. As far as working for Gujarat's development is concerned, I feel sky is the limit. There can be no full stops to developmental work... innovation and initiatives are always required. You cannot fulfil people's needs in one lifetime.

Q: But as an individual you may want to do more at the national level. If you are asked to head the party, will you want to do it?

A: When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was PM, Venkaiah Naiduji was party president, when Advaniji is the prime ministerial candidate, Rajnath Singhji is looking after the party! As far as organisational work is concerned, when I reach the bridge, I will cross it.

Q: What is your opinion on BJP's prospects?

A: BJP is at the centrestage. It is ahead in terms of leadership. Probably, India does not have another leader like Advaniji who has visited 400 districts in the course of his long political career and that is why he understands real issues and problems. Organisationally, BJP is the biggest in the country now and in power in most important states except Uttar Pradesh. Alongwith its NDA partners, it shares power in important states. As opposed to this, the present government at the Centre is a faceless one, meaning it has no issues, achievements or individuals that it can be identified with. They (UPA) are only passing time. It cannot control inflation it is the first government whose decisions one after the other has been overruled by SC.

For the first time, we have a government that says something in Parliament and in the US, George Bush says something else. It protects terrorists. It repealed POTA, it has been denying legislations like GUJCOCA, national security is an issue today.

Q: You mentioned UP which is dominated by SP and BSP. Do you have a formula to improve things for your party in the state?

A: The Congress was dominant in UP which is why the state was always very closely connected to national politics. The people of UP want to be part of the national mainstream. I am hopeful of drastic changes in UP this time.

Q: Congress is setting out on Navnirman yatra in Gujarat?

A: Interestingly, Chimanbhai Patel was accused in the Navnirman scam, and today his son is heading a rathyatra in the state and calling it Navnirman yatra. What should I say after this. And, for the last 20 years, Congress hated raths and rathyatras, but now they are having to follow BJP's footsteps and set out on a rathyatra.

Q: Do you feel the need for a image makeover for acceptability at the national level?

A: Image makeover? If I serve other people, I can't be thinking of my image. I'm working for the image of Gujarat and branding of Gujarat. I don't have time to think about my own image.


Source : Times Of India

Continue Reading...

UPA governemnt not cooperating with Karnataka: Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: BJP ruled Karnataka has accused the Centre of "neglect and step motherly treatment" on all issues as Congress has turned panicky in the wake of the southern state slipping out of its fold.

At the same time the B S Yeddyurappa led government has offered an olive branch to its neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and said it was ready to discuss outstanding inter-state disputes if the Centre took the lead.

"It is all out of frustration as they are panicky because they are loosing ground in a state which stood by them even during emergency days when the Congress had lost elsewhere across the country," Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said.

Expressing displeasure on the non-cooperation from the Centre when the state approached it for supply of fertilizers to farmers during this Kharif sowing season and for immediate financial assistance for relief to flood and drought affected people, Yeddyurappa said "neglect and step motherly treatment is being meted out to my state".

"There is not even a single instance in which the Centre cooperated with Karnataka," said Yeddyurappa, whose government completed 100 days in office on September 9.

The chief minister says he has already asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the lead to convene a meeting of concerned chief ministers to resolve inter-state issues.

Commenting on the non-cooperation of opposition Congress and JDS in the state, Yeddyurappa asked them to "join hands in development".

"From the day my government came to power, the opposition parties have been making attempts to destabilise it," he alleged.

Yeddyurappa, whose leadership helped the BJP come to power for the first time in the South, however shrugs off queries as to what advice he wanted to give for spreading the party's reach in the South.

"I am a humble worker. It is for the leadership to decide what has to be done. My job is limited to Karnataka and whatever directions the party leadership gives, I will follow," Yeddyurappa said.

The chief minister also sidesteps queries on whether Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi was his role model. "Our role model is Atal Behari Vajpayee," is his refrain. At the same time he is all praises for the development work done by Modi.

Yeddyurappa said he would change the face of Karnataka and particularly Bangalore city in the next five years and "if I fail to do so, I will quit politics".


Source : Times Of India

Continue Reading...