Supreme court recalls notice on Narendra Modi

New Delhi, March 23, 2012: Supreme Court Friday recalled its notice to the Gujarat government and the Nanavati Commission on a plea to summon Chief Minister Narendra Modi to record his statement on his alleged role in the 2002 post-Godhra riots in the state.

An apex court bench headed by Justice D.K. Jain recalled the notice, noting that it was issued not on a plea for summoning Modi by the Commission, but related to the summoning of some witness in Godhra train burning case.

Since a petition relating to the summoning of Modi before the Nanavati Commission is yet to be taken up by the top court, the bench took serious note of senior counsel Colin Gonsalves going wrong in the case.

"We trusted you, but this case has no connection to the witnesses mentioned. Hence we are recalling our order," the court said.

As another case relating to the summoning of Modi by the Nanavati commission is yet to be put up for hearing, the court directed that it will be taken up on March 26...IANS / NRIpress.com

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Narendra Modi takes pot shots at Manmohan, Kalmadi

Pune, March 18, 2012: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Sunday took pot shots at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, joking that he had received an Oscar for acting.

'I received an SMS that said the rime minister has received an Oscar. I checked what it was and came to know that he got the Oscar for acting as PM,' Modi mocked him here at an event organised by Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj.

Modi attended over five events in Pune Sunday. He unveiled the centenary year souvenir and was also felicitated with the the Gujarat Ratna award during the event.

In another event in the city, Modi snubbed Congress parliamentarian Suresh Kalmadi by refusing to shake hands with him.

The incident occurred at a book launch organised by the former union minister Mohan Dharia's NGO Vanrai, also attended by Kalmadi.

When Kalmadi, who is accused of corruption in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, extended his hand towards Modi, the latter just offered a 'Namaste' with folded hands.

Since his release from jail in January, Kalmadi has been making frequent public appearances, one of them being this function.

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has often criticised the UPA government for the corruption in CWG and has also taken several digs at the prime minister for being 'weak' and being unable to take decisions.....IANS / NRIpress.com

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Can Narendra Modi lead India, asks Time magazine

Washington, March 17 (IANS) Controversial Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi features on the cover of Time magazine which wonders if he can ever become the prime minister despite his development work in his home state.

"Modi means business but can he lead India," asks the cover story in the Asia edition of the March 26 issue of the US magazine describing him as a "controversial, ambitious and shrewd politician".

"Many Indians recoil at any mention of a man whose name is indelibly linked to Gujarat's brutality of 2002; choosing him as India's leader would seem a rejection of the country's tradition of political secularism and a sure path to increased tension with Muslim Pakistan, where he is reviled," it said.

"But when others think of someone who can bring India out of the mire of chronic corruption and inefficiency -- of a firm, no-nonsense leader who will set the nation on a course of development that might finally put it on par with China -- they think of Modi," Time said.

But the US magazine suggests that Modi may pose a tough challenge to Congress's young scion Rahul Gandhi in India's next parliamentary elections in the wake of the party's poor performance in the recent Uttar Pradesh state elections.

"With two years left before the next national election in 2014, Congress hopes its young scion, Sonia's son Rahul, will refresh the party, but a resounding loss in a recent state election makes him look vulnerable," Time said.

"Modi, 61, is perhaps the only contender with the track record and name recognition to challenge Rahul Gandhi," said the cover story.

"Narendra Modi sits silently on stage in a posture of serene repose. Today, he is wearing the white of a penitent," said an article titled "Boy from the backyard" describing his series of day-long Sadbhavana fasts to reach out to the people of the state.

"It's Modi in makeover mode: an act of self-purification, humility and bridge building in a state that is still traumatised by the Hindu-led anti-Muslim massacres of 10 years ago and the flawed investigations in their wake," Time said......IANS / NRIpress.com..

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Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ aboard Metro’s Airport Express

New Delhi, March 7, 2012: The Gujarat Tourism Board has branded the Metro’s Airport Express service a part of the ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ tourism promotion campaign that features Amitabh Bachchan.

The move is in collaboration with the Airport Express operator, Reliance. For three months, the train will highlight the tourist attractions of to the state.

Speaking Wednesday at the flag-off of the redecorated train, Vipul Mittra, Gujarat government’s principal secretary for tourism, said: “The campaign showcases Gujarat’s unique tourist attractions such as Gir’s lions, white deserts of Kutch and the longest coastline among Indian states.”

Mittra said that Bachchan was to flag-off the train but this was called off as he is recuperating in Mumbai after two abdominal surgeries.

“According to (travel magazine) Lonely Planet, Gujarat is one of the top unsung tourist destinations of the world. We have creatively decorated the train with promotional posters depicting all the wonders of the state,” he added.

The train carries stills of Bachchan in Gir, Somnath, Rann of Kutch and other destinations portrayed in the campaign.

Stating that the Gujarat tourism industry was growing at double the national rate, Mittra claimed that the campaign was hugely successful at bringing Gujarat to the forefront of tourism in India and was emerging as an exciting tourist destination.