WHY NARENDER MODI IS A POPULAR CANDIDATE FOR PM IN 2014 GENERAL ELECTIONS? 1. Character sketch of Narender Modi.

Narender Damodardas Modi is a polarising figure, evoking visceral reactions across the political spectrum. Critics call him a dictator while supporters believe he could make India an Asian superpower. Hes a person who rules the front page, concentrates the national mind with amazing relentlessness. The most heard about, written about and most watched about politician at work today. His popularity is only matched by the extreme emotions he evokes or administration and fear. In a country where silence is the mark of the ruler, hes the great communicator mesmerizing the mass mind as a story teller and dream merchant. He changed the way how elections would be contested in this country.

2. When and How Narender Modi started his political career? Narender Damodardas Modi is the 14th and the current CM of Gujarat. Here is a look at the rise of Narendra Modi and his political career. SEPTEMBER 17, 1950: Narendra Damodardas Modi is born in the ancient city of Vadnagar in present-day Gujarat into a Hindu family. As a youth, he worked in his family's tea stall, according to a biography. 1987: Modi joins the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the fledgling party taps into the growth of Hindu nationalism across India. The BJP wins a majority in Gujarat in 1995 and Modi quickly rises up the ranks 2001: Modi gets his big break when Keshubhai Patel steps down as Gujarat chief minister in the wake of the January earthquake that killed thousands of people. Modi is selected as Patel's replacement and has remained in power ever since, becoming Gujarat's longest-serving chief minister. FEBRUARY 27, 2002 : Riots break out after 59 passengers, mostly Hindu pilgrims, die in a train fire in the town of Godhra in Gujarat. At least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, are killed. Modi, as chief minister, is accused by critics of not doing enough to stem the riots and even quietly encouraging them -- allegations he has strongly denied and which have never been proved. In

2012, one of Modi's former ministers, Maya Kodnani, is sentenced to 28 years in prison alongside 30 others for their role in the riots. 2005: Washington denies Modi a travel visa for religious intolerance, causing uproar in India. OCTOBER 2008: Modi persuades Tata Motors to move its factory to build its low-cost Nano car to Gujarat from West Bengal after protests from farmers over land compensation, a sign of his businessfriendly approach to politics. FEBRUARY 2012: A Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has been appointed by India's Supreme Court, says investigators found no evidence against Modi in a 2002 riots case. AUGUST 31, 2012: Modi addresses a number of topics during an online web cam chat which draws questions from around India and across the world. A media-savvy politician, Modi is an avid Twitter user with more than 1.86 million followers (as on July 11, 2013). OCTOBER 22, 2012: British High Commissioner James Bevan sits down with Modi to discuss business and investment in a landmark meeting that ends the UK's 10-year diplomatic boycott after three British citizens were killed in the 2002 riots.

 DECEMBER 20, 2012: Narendra Modi wins a third successive term as chief minister of Gujarat, with the BJP getting 115 of the state assembly's 182 seats against 61 for the Congress. The BJP also won four assembly seats in by-elections held in 2013. JANUARY 7, 2013: European Union ambassadors have lunch with Modi at the German ambassador's residence in New Delhi, ending a decade-old informal boycott of the political leader. JUNE 9, 2013: Modi is chosen to head the BJP's campaign in general elections due in 2014, a position that could make him the party's candidate for prime minister. A day later, rival leader Lal Krishna Advani resigns from BJP posts, exposing deep rifts in the party. Advani backtracks later that week. June 16, 2013: Nitish Kumar, head of the Janata Dal (United), pulls out of a 17-year-old alliance with the BJP after the party's decision to appoint Modi as its standard-bearer for the general elections. 3. What all happened in Gujarat riots in February 2002? In 2002, widespread communal violence erupted between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat after the violent incident near the Godhra railway station where some coaches of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned by a Muslim mob. 59 passengers, mostly Hindu pilgrims and At least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims were killed. The Gujarat administration was accused by the opposition and sections of the media of taking insufficient action against the violence, and even condoning it in some cases. The Modi

government had imposed curfews, issued shoot-at-sight orders and called for the army to prevent the violence from worsening but the combined strength of the army and state police proved insufficient. In April 2009, the Supreme Court of India appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into the Gujarat government and Narendra Modi's role in the incidents of communal violence. The SIT reported to the court in December 2010 submitted that they did not find any incriminating evidence against Modi of willfully allowing communal violence in the state. Modi's decision to move the corpses of the kar sevaks who had been burned to death in Godhra to Ahmedabad had been criticised for inflaming the violence. However, SIT found his decision to be justified. In April 2012, the SIT absolved Modi of any involvement in the Gulbarg Society massacre that occurred in 2002. In 2012, one of Modi's former ministers, Maya Kodnani, is sentenced to 28 years in prison alongside 30 others for their role in the riots. 4. What were the aftermaths followed by the riots? In the aftermath of the violence, there were calls for Modi to resign from his position as chief minister of Gujarat. The opposition parties stalled the national parliament over the issue. Both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), allies of the BJP, also asked for Modi's resignation, as did Jayalalithaa. Modi submitted his resignation and the state Assembly were dissolved. In the resultant elections the BJP, led by Modi, won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly. 5. How did Gujarat emerge as a model for development? In 2001 Gujarat was considered as a drought prone state... And now it has emerged as a model for development. The following are the developments

 To bring happiness to the farming community the state government launched a campaign for agriculture development and water conservation so as to take the fruits of progress to village after village. The state government boosted agriculture growth adopting scientific farming and cattle-rearing initiatives. Ten years ago Gujarat farmers agriculture income was Rs 14,000 crore that has risen to Rs 80,000 crore today. The average agricultural growth rate of the country is less than 3 per cent while Gujarats has crossed the double digit figure of nearly 11 per cent. Drip irrigation, green house, net house and sprinkler techniques are being used to maximize profit with minimum investment. Gujarat has turned out to be an exception as both industrial growth and agriculture land has increased. In the last summit of 2011, 7,936 MoUs were signed with the investment commitment of Rs 20.83 lakh crore. This created over 52 lakh local jobs. In addition to this it would also result in employment opportunities for the local youth. In agro based industries, MoUs worth Rs 81,600 crores have been signed. On one hand Gujarat is rearing to become the auto hub of India while on the other hand it has also become the textile and petro capital. The GDP share of Gujarat is 10 per cent. The strength of Gujarat lies in its 50 per cent population comprising of women. If women are included in the path of progress then the pace of development will be faster and widespread. Lakhs of sakhi mandals have been integrated with banks leaving the management of over Rs 1000 crore in their hand.

 Gujarat is the only state in the country that has provided housing plots to all the BPL families which come within the 0-16 parameter. A sum of Rs 13,000 crore funds has been established for the welfare of urban poor. The dropout ratio from Class I to V has fallen from 20.93 per cent to 2.09 per cent. While in Class I to VII dropout ratio is down from 39 per cent to 7.45 per cent. In 2001 there were only 11universities. And today, there are 39 universities in Gujarat. To meet the present day needs, about 52 colleges have been started with new courses. In the tribal belt there are 35 colleges now functioning. For the first time in the country, a Childrens University has been set up and a Commission for Education Innovation had been started. 6. Why Narender Modi should be selected as a candidate for PM in 2014 elections? Narendra Modi, without taking into considerations the comments and appraisals of his political rivals and critics, is a political idol without a shadow of doubt. No politician in independent India has been demonised in such a relentless, Goebbelsian manner as Narendra Modi, and no politician has withstood it with as much resilience and courage as him, notwithstanding the entire Central government, influential sections of the media machinery and civil society arraigned against him. The nature of respect he commands throughout Gujarat is awe-inspiring. And after the end of Vajpayee era, he is the lone warrior standing tall in the NDA camp, often giving sleepless nights to the UPA government. He can retain the chair of CM of Gujarat as long as he wishes and presumably there is no one in the state who can give him even a close fight. But the point is, can he be projected as a potential PM candidate? And

even if he fights against all the odds and gets there, would he be able to do justice to the position which millions can only dream of? No matter how much we try to bring out the negativities in him, we cannot miss the charisma he radiates. He is the finest manager of Indian media amongst all leaders. He has excellent organizational capabilities, dynamic personality and can motivate even a corpse to move with his powerful words, to name a few of his qualities. . And the business stalwarts of the country seem to be in awe of him. The fact that GDP growth rate in Gujarat has been 11.05% over the past few years (a number that has been well publicised by the Gujarat government) as against the national value of 9% is something one cannot overlook. The looks of the power hubs of the state, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Surat have been turned upside down, leaving the other cities of the country gasping for breath. Gujarat is quickly turning into an economically and industrially ideal state, something which other states will look up to as an example. If we consider the aspect of a leaders willpower to bring positive changes in his/her constituency skipping the other attributes, then Narendra Modi undeniably stands out amongst his counterparts in other states. If any CM has done exceptionally well in his ruling states then he would definitely do for the country. This kind of culture would bring some kind of hope in a corrupt political system. Modi is said to be involved in riots, but nothing was suspected against him. Those riots not only killed Muslims but Hindus also. Congress had many riots, who can forget 84? Advani was involved in Babri masjit riots. At this stage India is in the need of development and progress. Almost all national surveys rated him as Indias most popular candidate for the job of Prime Minister.

PRESENTED BY: Kanica Ganjoo Indu Sharma