Modi to visit Surat today Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
SURAT: Though apparent enthusiasm could be seen among scores of BJP workers across the city on the eve of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit here on Sunday, but party ranks are keeping their fingers crossed on what seems to be an assessment visit to curb the local unit's organisational downslide.
City MP and Union textiles minister Kashiram Rana said Modi's visit could give a fillip to the beleaguered party's image, presently ridden by factionalism. He felt it would bridge the widening gap between the organisation and party workers at all levels.
Former city mayor Fakir Chauhan, however, said it is too early to say if Modi's visit can strengthen the party. But his interaction with party workers would definitely boost their morale, he added.
City BJP president Kishore Wanakawala, however, is confident that Modi's visit would definitely bring a new wave of enthusiasm among party workers.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Rajkot cheers Modi with grand welcome Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
RAJKOT: It was chaos at the Rajkot airport during Narendra Modi's first visit to the city as chief minister on Saturday. The cops had a tough job in tackling the party members who were out to show their solidarity with the new chief minister.
As the state government helicopter landed at 1:10 p.m. a select group of BJP men rushed to the chopper to greet Modi but once he came to the VIP enclosure it was bedlam. Leaders and volunteers, men and women, young and old, those aspiring for some post and not so aspiring volunteers jostled around.
The most notable absentee, though, was former revenue and finance minister Vajubhai Vala whom Modi had dropped.
Contrary to notions during the swearing-in, Modi got a red carpet welcome. He had said that such welcome should be banned and the amount meant for such extravaganza could be diverted to the quake rehabilitation work. All that talk seemed shallow when it came to welcoming the chief minister.
A rangoli from colour paper (estimated cost Rs 30,000) greeted Modi at the airport and BJP volunteers besides social and voluntary organisations braved the afternoon heat to welcome him. However, the number of people at the airport was much below the expected target set by the local BJP. In fact, only 1,500 people were there to cheer him at the airport.
That the BJP is a divided house in the city was evident during the arrival function itself. The two groups jostled each other to get as nearer to the chief minister as possible. Even the policemen were targeted and mobbed.
The chief minister remained elusive to reporters at the airport, and to any query, he replied with a 'namaste'. When reporters asked him if he could spare a few moments, he said, "The entire period is for you alone".
A convoy of 50 motorcyclists in rows of two escorted him up to the Race Course Road. Incidentally, as the motorcade neared the railway crossing, it was closed prompting a bystander to comment, "The crossing near Keshubhai Patel's house is closed for Narendrabhai."
Modi had a tight schedule during his day-long visit as addressed officials of the district and region at the collectorate, inaugurated a consumer fair at the Race Course grounds, attended a function of the Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Rajkot Engineering Association to felicitate him. Then there was a garba programme organised by Sargam Club. Of course, he addressed BJP volunteers at night.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Rajkot to host the IMA state conference Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
RAJKOT: The city would host the Indian Medical Association state conference from November 2 to 4, wherein 1,200 doctors from the country and abroad are expected.
Announcing this to reporters here on Saturday, Union minister for heavy industry and conference organising chairman Vallabh Kathiria said the aim of the conference was to update doctors with advances in medicine.
Papers on topics like endocrinology, AIDS, safe motherhood, TB, cancer and stress management would be presented. The new president of the IMA Gujarat chapter would also be elected during the conference.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
State IMA conference on Nov 2 at Rajkot Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
RAJKOT: The city would host the Indian Medical Association state conference from November 2 to 4, wherein 1,200 doctors from the country and abroad are expected.
Announcing this to reporters here on Saturday, Union minister for heavy industry and conference organising chairman Vallabh Kathiria said the aim of the conference was to update doctors with advances in medicine.
Papers on topics like endocrinology, AIDS, safe motherhood, TB, cancer and stress management would be presented. The new president of the IMA Gujarat chapter would also be elected during the conference.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
CM insists on questionnaire before he is interviewed Sunday, October 28, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
GANDHINAGAR: Last week, when Chief Minister Modi visited Kutch, he issued a terse directive to the local administration _ speed up reconstruction work and finish it by December-end, because the world media would be here on the first anniversary of the quake in January.
Coming from a former BJP spokesman and one of party's most media-savvy persons, this really wasn't a surprise. After all, even his swearing-in on October 7 had some leading media luminaries from Delhi trooping to Gandhinagar _ not for covering the mega event, but for friendship's sake.
But the tide has changed and Modi has suddenly clammed up. During the last three weeks he has addressed just one press conference where he was more evasive than forthcoming. Ever since, Modi has conveyed it to ministerial colleagues that they need not talk to newspersons about all and sundry.
Bureaucrats, too, have been told to curtail their media interaction. Unlike his predecessor Keshubhai, who would take media criticism in his stride and never make it known that he is unhappy with an adverse report, Modi makes it a point to convey _ directly or through aides _ that he hasn't appreciated a particular report. Newsmen who have met Modi have been taken by surprise when he insisted on a questionnaire for interviews.
He is quite wary of talking on basic policies. "I am not the one who would announce big programmes like my predecessor did and then not deliver. I will deliver and then you can make your analysis," he told a reporter recently. Unlike Keshubhai, who looked forward to his weekly post-Cabinet Press briefing, Modi has not yet fixed any periodicity for interactions with the media. "He feels only good work will impress the media, he does he want any superficial talk," explained a top aide who goes on to say that the policies would be known through strong implementation on the ground and not announcements beforehand.
The media may not have liked the veil of secrecy that has been thrown over the gameplan, but sources say this is the way Modi would like it to be. He wants to get familiar with the problems of the state and wouldn't like to be caught on the wrong foot during media interaction. During his informal interactions with the Press, Modi is known to have said that the media is a double-edged sword _ you can use it but it cuts both ways. Besides, he would also like to play down the expectations that have been raised after his arrival in Gujarat because that could be counter-productive in the longer run.
Modi has also revealed that he is currently more comfortable with mediapersons in New Delhi, for whom he hosted a lunch during his recent visit, and is taking his time picking up the ropes in Gujarat after a four-year hiatus. His adviser S K Shelat is readily available to write down the answers on the CM's behalf, provided a questionnaire are provided.
Those who don't follow the formality are assuaged when Modi tells them that he needs at least two to three months before he could reveal his mind. Those who have known Modi for long say that he used to effortlessly indulge the media during his tenure in Gujarat as BJP organisation secretary.
He used the same skills during his stint in Delhi where he cultivated many admirers and friends in the national Press. However, while he was comfortable being a spokesman for his party, it looks like there is still time before Modi, the chief minister, becomes his own PR man.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
