Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
Beyond Saffron

Beyond Saffron

Author: Uday Mahurkar
Publication: India Today
Date: December 29, 2003
URL: http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20031229/state.shtml

Introduction: Modi's image as a good administrator gets distorted between the cries of hatred of his opponents and the eulogies of his supporters. It's not easy to decipher the Gujarat chief minister.

Die-hard followers of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi laud him for zealously championing what they call the Hindutva cause. Muslims, secularists and many others love to hate him for his "ruthless silence" when bloody riots scarred the state last year.

So, it was no surprise when the Supreme Court pulled up Modi's Government last month for what it said was its failure to give justice to the riot victims-it was the second time in two months that the apex court lashed out at the Modi Government on the same issue. Yet, he drew large crowds as a star campaigner for the BJP in the recent assembly polls. Modi as a good administrator invariably got sunk either in the cries of hatred or in the euphoric calls of admiration. The real Modi could stand up but remained inconspicuous, shadowed by the politician in him.

A close scrutiny of his performance as chief minister reveals an unknown Modi-determined and tough-a man who has injected new life into a morose administration through transparency in financial dealings, vision and commitment to development. He is apparently on his way to setting a model for good governance, running the Government with the smallest cabinet in the country comprising 14 ministers.

Modi became chief minister in October 2001 replacing Keshubhai Patel. He was reelected in December 2002. In two years, he has brought down the state's annual revenue deficit to around Rs 2,500 crore from whopping Rs 6,700 crore through cost cutting and better financial management. He hiked user charges in areas such as education and irrigation, brought the ailing public-sector units like the Gujarat Alkalies and Chemical Ltd out of the red and implemented restructuring braving opposition. His style is clearly a big departure from that of his immediate predecessors: the difference is visible in almost all the crucial sectors, right from education to energy, oil and gas.

He has also weeded out the "rule" of the middlemen who used to call the shots in Gandhinagar. Says Professor Ravindra Dholakia of IIM, Ahmedabad, "Modi has focused on areas that are going to spur development, from gas and ports to water, bio- technology and tourism. He is also paying proper attention to education and agriculture." Modi worked wonders at the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB), till recently a den of corruption, by reducing its losses by over Rs 1,000 crore in just a year through steps ranging from checking power theft, slashing the agriculture subsidy to renegotiating old power purchase agreements. Says Power Minister Saurabh Patel: "Looking at the harsh and non-populist measures I have taken to improve the GEB's health, any other chief minister would have thrown me out."

The Transport Department, held by Modi's favourite Amit Shah who is also the home minister, has registered a rise in revenue of around Rs 230 crore from a year ago. Shah has overhauled the State Intelligence Bureau (sib) as well. Besides, he transformed the state Anti-Corruption Bureau from a toothless body into an agency to curb corruption.

What actually won Modi accolades from corporate heavyweights and economists was his mission to turn Gujarat into the "Petro Capital of India" by implementing a gas network for industrial and domestic use to reduce the state's dependence on coal and power. Within a year, vehicles in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Gandhinagar are expected to run on CNG. By April, gas will be available for domestic as well industrial use in Vadodara and by the beginning of 2005 in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Surendranagar and Vapi, thanks to a Rs 3,500 crore gas transmission pipeline being laid by the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation in collaboration with some private industrial houses. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor's Meet organised by the Modi Government attracted investment proposals worth Rs 56,000 crore.

Says Pradip Shah, a reputed fund adviser: "When it comes to development priorities Modi's mathematics is absolutely in place." The Government has also taken several steps to curb graft within the bureaucracy and sectors such as education. And, Modi has been called a chief minister who is both financially transparent and dynamic. For many industrialists, Modi is more a CEO of a successful company than a politician. However, a section of senior BJP leaders is sullen because Modi is not known to dole out undue favours for his partymen. The chief minister faces the charge that he doesn't believe in collective decision-making. Modi has also been accused of being autocratic in his functioning.

His arch rival Keshubhai is reportedly trying to capitalise on this disgruntlement by mobilising unhappy elements within the party. But with his high public approval ratings, Modi appears to be on a firm political wicket despite the intra-party wrangle.
 


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements