A 27-member student delegation from Germany’s Hof University called on Shri Narendra Modi on the evening of Tuesday 17th December 2013 in Gandhinagar. Shri Modi interacted with the students on a variety of issues and answered their questions. The students were deeply impressed with the development journey of Gujarat and praised the leadership skills of Shri Narendra Modi. The students are on a ten-day tour of Gujarat to study Gujarat’s development under Shri Modi, particularly his rise from humble background to leading Gujarat’s development journey.
One of the students asked Shri Modi about the main challenge India faces and what would be his top priority when he becomes the PM. Shri Modi answered that policy paralysis at the Centre is the main challenge India is facing today. He added that no decisions are being taken and this is causing great problems. Giving an example he said, that 20,000 MW power cannot be generated because there is no fuel. Due to that there is energy shortage, due to which industries are closed, which in turn is causing unemployment and is affecting the growth story.
Another student wanted to know about Shri Modi’s daily routine and asked him the secret behind his hardworking nature. Shri Modi answered that when a person is clear (in thoughts), when he or she knows their responsibilities well and how to fulfill them then time follows and the body also adjusts. He shared that he works for an average of 14 hours per day, sometimes it goes up to 18. Shri Modi also pointed that he is a very organized person and that has also helped him immensely. He shared that he has been a non-stop traveller for the last 45 years and this has helped him to understand the people better.
Answering a question on whether he wanted to become a politician, Shri Modi stated that he never thought he would become a politician. He said that he belonged to a very poor family and he left his family at the age of 17 with a determination to serve the poor. It was only later on the insistence of friends, who were impressed by his oratory and organisation skills, that he joined a political party in the late 1980s and then finally he was given the responsibility to serve Gujarat in 2001.
Shri Modi described youth and democracy as the two greatest strengths of India. He spoke about empowering the youth. He also talked about development of agriculture and villages. Shri Modi spoke about the relevance of Gandhi today. He even talked on the relations between India and Germany and what can be learnt from Germany, be it focus on renewable energy, healthcare and organizing global events well.
The students were very impressed after meeting Shri Modi. One of them said that he was very impressed during his visit to Gujarat and added that he found the state very clean. Another student said that Gujarat was developed than another state he had been to. He said that there is no problem with power and the roads are developed. The students were impressed with the good infrastructure of Gujarat too.
The delegation was led by Professor Dinesh Patel. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri AK Sharma was present on the occasion.
