Place :Ahmedabad Speech Date :1-05-2011
- What a great collective strength we have- twelve crore arms with six crore dreams-what all can be achieved through this,we have experienced during Golden Jubilee year.
- Today, there is not a single Tribal taluka without Higher Secondary School with science stream
- Wherever there is a discussion about development, Gujarat takes the centre stage and the discussion about growth always revolves around the growth in Gujarat You have used every constitutional authority of India to torture Modi. You are free to continue doing it- Modi will neither deter nor duck
- come let's lift up Gujarat to surpass newer horizons of progress and development, let us strive for the wellbeing of the poor, the downtrodden, the tribal people
Respected Her Excellency the Governor of Gujarat Dr. Kamalaji, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mr.Arun Jaitlyji, my fellow Ministers, MPs and MLAs, Government Officials and the large gathering of people who have arrived here on the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Dayand the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, I welcome all of you from the depth of my heart. I congratulate the organizers of this event because last year we had organized the event on 1st May and such a large number of people turned up that many of them had to return without attending the function, an atmosphere of disappointment was created, friends from media also had to suffer. This year we have tried to correct that mistake and organised the programme for 2 days so that none of the invitees for today had to return disappointed and those invited for tomorrow too will get a smooth entry. So we organised the function for two days hence I compliment the organizing team, that the citizens did not face any inconvenience this time.
Brothers and sisters, this is the closing ceremony of Golden Jubilee year and the entire spectrum of programmes we witnessed this year, the way we participated in each of them; as if it became an occasion of manifesting the people’s power of six crore citizens of Gujarat during a span of one year. What a great collective strength we have- twelve crore arms, six crore dreams-what all can be achieved through this,we have experienced during this Golden Jubilee year. Look at the number of world records we have established- this is the realization of Jan shakti, the power of the people. Along with these celebrations something more happened, something that would cause any other state government of India to feel jealous about and wonder how things happen in Gujarat ! This happening is the way in which more than 5 lakh KarmaYogis in my state right, from a peon to the Chief Secretary, have worked so hard for public cause and public welfare as well as developmental works in just 1 year, which would have otherwise taken about 10 years. My 5 lakh karma yogi brethren have achieved such targets in one year which could have normally used up about 2 to 3 budgets; and have dedicated a lot many achievements at the feet of the people of Gujarat. I take this opportunity to congratulate these karma yogi brothers and sisters from the depth of my heart. My faith in them has strengthened further after seeing their potential and I feel that this year has laid the foundation stone of a Golden Era. Today, while the Swarnim Jayanti concludes, it has marked the beginning of a Golden Era and that is why I say that if more than 5 lakh government employees dedicate themselves to their work so earnestly, any government in India will be jealous of us. But I declare with pride that I have 11 lakh arms which are firm and determined to work for the welfare of the people of Gujarat.
Brothers and sisters, today we have released two books , I would like to draw your attention to the one which is in 3 volumes. Let me mention here, some people have a habit of remembering Modi day and night. They don’t mind forgetting Gujarat, but they would never forget Modi. If they do not mention Modi 108 times during a 2 hour programme (like chanting names with rosary) they do not feel that they have done enough. I want to draw the attention of those who are in the habit of criticising Gujarat, throwing brickbats at this government, towards the generosity of this government. I want to show them the historical importance we attach to last 50 years. Every year the Governor addresses the State Assembly which gives an account of activities and achievements of the government. In these 3 volumes, we have published the addresses by the Governors in the State Assembly in last 50 years, since 1960. This illustrates how large hearted we are. We could have published addresses of only those years during which B. J. P was ruling the state, but we didn’t do that. When we started the Swarnim Jayanti Rathyatra, we began from Amreli the birth place of Jivraj Mehta, the first CM of Gujarat and we have been saying at various occasions in public that whatever Gujarat has attained today, we owe it to the collective efforts of a lot many people who contributed their bit, to all the governments so far and all the Chief Ministers who led the state. This is not only because of Narendra Modi alone, this is not the achievement of just one Government; this is the result of the toil of all governments in last 50 years. We know how to be large hearted and at the same time we also know how to put across our point strongly. And the people of Gujarat know us well. The people have absolutely no doubt as to what our intentions are, what our aims are and the way we think.
Brothers and sisters, for whatsoever time I keep awake during 24 hours, I not think of anything else except Gujarat. I want to change the fate of my 6 Crore brothers and sisters- this is the sole thought and all efforts are in this direction. Today, in India, wherever there is a discussion about development, Gujarat takes the centre stage and the discussion about growth always revolves around the growth in Gujarat. Recently, our Prime Minister had been to West Bengal campaigning for elections. The way he criticized the West Bengal government is quite interesting. Criticizing the West Bengal Government he said that the Muslims in West Bengal cannot earn their daily bread, compared to them, those in Gujarat are in a much better situation. This speech is by none other than the Prime Minister himself and it was given just a week ago. Friends, whether or not Gujarat gets a certificate from anyone, what is important is that the truth always comes to the fore. I want development of Gujarat to scale newer heights. All my Gujarati brothers spread across the world have further strengthened their ties with Gujarat on the occasion of this Swarnim Jayanti. These sons of Gujarat, whose forefathers had left Gujarat about a 100 years ago, have reconnected themselves with Gujarat; the occasion of Swarnim Jayanti has reunited everyone. In every area of development, Gujarat has emerged with renewed strength. Friends, you will be stunned to know that those who boast of development did not even start a science stream higher secondary school in Tribal areas. When I came in the government I was shocked to know this- how could the tribal children become doctors and engineers without a science stream school ! And within a year we took decided for this. Today, there is not a single Tribal taluka without Higher Secondary School with science stream. Couldn’t these people work in this direction? Friends, there has to be a limit to greed. I had kept mum till now, we had tried our best to take along everyone with us for Swarnim Jayanti celebrations. But since 1st May last year, those who tried to earn a political mileage over the occasion of Swarnim Jayanti, those who have not co-operated during Swarnim Jayanti celebrations, I give a call to the people of Gujarat, all those who have disown these celebrations, opposed them , tried to create hurdles are all opponents of Gujarat and never ever forgive them for this conduct of theirs. There are thousands of occasions to criticize Modi, there are scores of opportunities to harass Modi and what not do you have? You have used every constitutional authority of India to torture Modi. You are free to continue doing it- Modi will neither deter nor duck. You may continue to torment Modi but atleast you could have behaved on this occasion- Gujarat was celebrating 50 years, it was not a celebration of Narendra Modi nor was it about his government. And one could have still understood had there been political oppose. But the kind of perverseness they have displayed- friends, never pardon them. I kept quite last year, I didn’t utter a word throughout the year but today on the conclusion of the Swarnim Jayanti it is my duty to speak the truth and I am putting forth the truth to the people of Gujarat. Friends, my only mantra is Development. I am neither interested in debates nor in disagreements. I want to take Gujarat to newer heights and to such heights that all the problems of the poor are resolved, every village prospers, every nook and corner of the state gets the benefit of development. Friends this is what we are striving for, we are immersed in it; we have dedicated ourselves fully for it.
Brothers and Sisters, no other Government in India has witnessed the dirty manipulation of democracy the way it is being played against Gujarat today. In forth coming days, I am going to combat it out with full force. On this occasion of Swarnim Jayanti conclusion, I seek your blessings for the same, please bless me. Tolerating injustice is a crime too. But now Gujarat will not tolerate oppression any more. How long will you bear the victimization? How long will you continue to these tactics to attain your own selfish political gains? This is Democracy my friends, better they go to the masses, go and convince them, try to earn their trust - but no, they do not want to do that. They do not want to do anything except shouting false allegations and misusing constitutional authorities. And so my friends, it is the need of the day to raise 12 Crore determined hands to resolve to think of nothing else but the welfare of our state; come let’s lift up Gujarat to surpass newer horizons of progress and development, let us strive for the wellbeing of the poor, the downtrodden, the tribals; let us create a safe and secure environment for our sisters and mothers We have to fulfill these dreams. Today, when we leave from here, while we are concluding the Swarnim Jayanti, let us strive to give our best for Golden Era. With these hopes and aspirations I convey my Best Wishes on this occasion. And I promise you, my friends, to do my best until my last breath to live up to your expectations, to live upto the faith you have put in me. It is your faith in me that has made me win, it is your faith that energizes me to work hard, it is the grace of your blessings that I am dedicated to Gujarat. I request you to continue to shower your incessant blessings on me. I am highly grateful to Her Excellency to have been kind enough to grace this occasion, who has always been guiding us, inspiring us and I am sure under her guidance we will lead Gujarat to new pinnacles of progress. Hearty congratulations to all of you and best compliments.
