NAMO PEOPLE-FIRST PARADIGM

The narrators express their belief that PM Narendra Modi, a leader with a big heart, dedicated himself to the greater good of the people. They note that Modi possessed detailed, minute-by-minute information about events worldwide. Furthermore, they acknowledge Modi’s efforts in abolishing the ‘laal batti’ culture, among other accomplishments.

Gujaratis lucky to have the then CM like Narendra Modi - Kanubhai Vyas, Gujarat

We were travelling in Kashmir. Modi ji was the CM of Gujarat at that time. There at a place I met a Yuva Morcha karyakarta (BJP youth wing activist). He asked, “Where are you from?” I said I was coming from Gujarat. He immediately said, you guys are so lucky. In curiosity asked him, why is it so? He said, because Narendra Modi is your CM. Amused, I further prodded him and asked, why do you think so? To this he narrated to me a small story

He said, “One day I was sleeping. It was early in the morning. When I picked up the call and asked who it was, the voice from the other side said here’s Narendra Modi speaking. Thinking it was a bad joke by someone, I hung up the phone. It happened the second time too. When a third time the same call came, then I got alerted. It can’t be a joke anymore. I thought I could in fact recognise the voice. Then once I took the call, he said I am indeed Narendra Modi. I have an important message. A private vehicle from Gujarat with several Gujaratis in it has met with an accident in your area. Immediately send relief to them and put the injured in hospitals. After that, update me. Sitting in Gujarat, Modi ji had every minute-by-minute information of anything happening anywhere on the planet. He even had the number of the party karyakarta available nearest to the point of accident. He didn’t let any protocol come in between and directly called my number to expedite the rescue. How can a leader be so meticulous? That’s why say you are lucky to have a CM like him.”

MODI, A TRUE DEMOCRAT IN LETTER AND SPIRIT - Arjun Modhwadia, Former LoP, Gujarat

I was the leader of the opposition in the assembly. At that time I took strong stands on issues. And mostly Narendra Modi tried to accommodate whatever I said. At that time he used to tell us that whatever the opposition suggests, our government notes it down and even implements the ones which are worth it.

Talking about Porbandar airport, a terminal building was established. Its inauguration was to be done by then aviation minister Praful Patel. Narendra Modi was presiding over that function and as an MLA and leader of the Opposition, I was also present at the programme.

I told Praful Patel that the runway of the airport was so small that no big aircraft could land here. It was only 1,300 metres long and thus we needed a longer runway. It must be increased to at least 2,600 metres. To this he said that if Modi gives us the extra land, we can do that too.

Immediately after hearing this, Modi ji publicly announced that the airport would be expanded and the state government was ready to make the extra land available to the Centre and AAI for the project. Simultaneously, he also informed the collector to issue the proposal for the same at the earliest.

But after 2012, I was no longer an MLA and Modi ji went on to become the PM by 2014, so the work of Porbandar airport eventually got sidelined. The land that was to be allotted to the airport finally went to the Coast Guard. It was a bureaucratic lapse.

I thought, the Coast Guard was under Defence Services. So the Gujarat government won’t be able to stop them. It is only the PM who can do the needful. So I told then Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani that Modi ji had publicly declared Porbandar airport would be expanded. The CMO sent across my message to the PM, reminding him of his promise.

Modi ji acknowledged and accepted he had promised it. He immediately ordered that at any cost the airport had to be expanded with a runway length of 2,600 metres. Despite my being in the opposition, Narendra Modi worked for the larger interest of the people and the state and accepted and implemented my proposal, even just through a message I sent. Only a big-hearted leader can do this.

End of canteen subsidy and ‘laal batti’ culture - Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Former Union Minister

One day Modi ji decided to have lunch at the Parliament canteen. So he walked into the MPs canteen on the Parliament premises. Soon he said, the same food is being taken by people outside for Rs 50 to Rs 100 a plate, and here inside it is available for just Rs 10. This is not fair. Do we belong to some kind of privileged class? This injustice must stop. The same food that a poor man is buying for Rs 50, we are getting for Rs 5, why? Since that day, the age-old practice of canteen subsidy for MPs came to an end. At the same time, Modi ji was also disturbed by the laal batti culture of MPs, which had become a show of might and power of the political class - a colonial hangover. Modi ji brought an end to this culture as well. When he faced opposition to this from certain quarters, he said no matter who abides by this or not, but my ministers at the Centre won’t indulge in this practice anymore. All ministers brought down the red beacons from their vehicles and the pomp and show associated with political heft was thus gone.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA