Love him or hate him, but you can’t ignore him

Way back in 2002, the state of Gujarat witnessed what was to be the single biggest communal shame the Indian polity ever faced since the Babri incident. The minorities were trampled upon and their rights subdued into the darkness of the hour. What followed was an outpour of widespread anguish and nation-wide anger towards the civil and political establishment in Gujarat. The media and human rights activists took up the mantle of exposing one and all including the CM of Gujarat – Narendra Modi.

This was followed up with commissions and enquiries into the roles of who and who of Gujarat in the 2002 riots. The hatred continued but the people of Gujarat voted Modi back for a second term with a resounding victory.

Even as we grapple with the question of having Modi at the helm of the state, his performance as an administrator and as a CEO echo deep within the state of Gujarat. Where Modi has become a “what not be” icon for the human rights activists, corporate honchos hail him as the new development avatar. He may not know how to win national elections but he knows his stuff well enough to take Gujarat to unprecedented heights and has a proven potential for the country.

Modi has delivered and he has done it in style. A recent article in the Economic Times pointed out his “robot-like efficiency, financial probity and his handling of the government bureaucracy” as undeniable factors responsible for the growth of Gujarat. It went on to describe Vibrant Gujarat – Modi’s pet global investor’s summit – as “the only business activity happening in a frozen global economy at that time”. Investors from 40 countries pledged projects worth Rs. 12 lakh crore having a potential to create over 25 lakh jobs in Gujarat. Tourism, climate change, infrastructure – Modi has made a mark wherever and however he could.

On the back drop of 2002 communal riots, Azim Premji – the Wipro chief and a Muslim with Gujarati roots – had dismissed Gujarat as an investment destination. Recently, he stepped into the same state to meet Modi and discuss his investment options. Same is the case for UK industrialist Sir Ghulam Noon. It is hard to shelve off that this is symbolic of the change that Modi has ushered in. Gujarat riots was a shame but its time to forgive and forget, to move on. The newer generations have seen better times and 2002 is history. Are we ready to catch up?