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Speech of Hon. Chief Minister, Gujarat JETRO Investment Seminar

Published By : Admin | July 23, 2012 | 13:52 IST

  • I am very happy to be in Japan once again. I have come here to personally thank the Japanese Government for the positive developments since my last visit in 2007.
  • Japan and India have a deep cultural bond and historical relations. Both countries have a common administrative culture. Both believe in a liberal society and democratic governance.
  • Gujarat has shown that it is possible to go high without weakening the roots.  Today, Gujarat is contributing immensely to the national economy. Our motto is: Gujarat’s growth for India’s growth.
  

 

Mr. Ishige, Chairman, JETRO, Ladies and gentlemen! 

I am very happy to be in Japan once again. I am also quite excited to interact with you here. I had visited this great country in 2007. This time, I have come to personally thank the Government of Japan for the positive developments thereafter.  I thank Japan Government for its pro-active engagement and co-operation with the State of Gujarat. I also thank the people of Japan, the industry, their organizations and the media for their trust and active involvement in the State. I particularly thank JETRO without whom this was not possible. 

In fact, after 2007, mutual exchanges between Japan and Gujarat have become a regular affair. It appears that Gujarat has become the second home of Japanese people. We whole heartedly welcome this development and hope that this trend will continue and become further better. I had said this earlier and now I am repeating that I want to see a mini-Japan in Gujarat. I wish that Japanese should feel at home in Gujarat. We are committed to create those conditions. I am sure, I will go back with more learning in this regard. I am thankful to the Government of Japan for making my visit possible. I particularly thank His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan in India for playing a very pro-active role.  A very high level delegation of the leading industrialists of India and Gujarat is also present here with my Government team.   I hope that the interaction with them will be useful.

Friends! Japan and India have had deep cultural bond and historic relations. Lord Buddha is a binding force between us. In modern times, Swami Vivekananda and Tagore reinforced the mutual understanding. Moreover, both countries have a common administrative culture. Both believe in a liberal society and democratic governance. Thus, we already had a strong ground to think together, and to stand together. In recent years, we have moved further closer.  By now, it is clear that we can work together fruitfully.

I have been saying that the present century belongs to Asia.  Japan has shown to the mankind what can be achieved by dedication, precision and hard work. I have always admired this country for its perseverance and industriousness. Similarly, India has the foundation of its tradition and the strength of its talented human resource. For Asia to be the Global Hub of 21st century, Japan and India both are going to play major roles. If the strength of intelligent process of Japan can be matched with the strength of intelligent and young people of India, we can do wonders.  Moreover, India has a huge market. Its growing middle class and its working youth have the highest ever purchasing power. Thus, India has the will to produce and also the capacity to consume. What India mainly needs is the technology: to produce better, smarter, and in lesser costs. Japan, with its track record in research, development, innovation and technology, can join us to serve the Indian and global markets.

Friends! Like Japan, Gujarat is also attached to its culture. Gujarat has also shown that it is possible to go high without weakening the roots.  Today, Gujarat is contributing immensely to the national economy. Our motto is: Gujarat’s growth for India’s growth. Gujarat’s growth is dedicated to its enterprising people, stable Government, proactive business environment and futuristic policies. Our economic model is equally dependent on three main sectors of economy: agriculture, industry and services. We have tried to build social, physical and industrial infrastructure that drives growth in and through diverse economic activities. Moreover, our state wide gas grid, state wide water grid, 24x7 electricity across all villages and the state wide ICT infrastructure is propelling the economic activities in remotest corners of the State. Because of this basic infrastructure, our rural areas are no longer just consumption centers but also production hubs in various products.

Gujarat has completed the first phase of development in terms of providing basic amenities including water, electricity, road connectivity and civic services. Now, we are on the path of second phase of development in line with the fast growing economies of the world. With its maritime location dotted with excellent ports, Gujarat is an ideal place to do global maritime trade, particularly with the Middle East, Europe and Africa. We are the gateway to India’s vast hinterland also. Our robust physical, social and industrial infrastructure and skilled manpower is an edge which Gujarat offers over many other global locations.

Today, Gujarat is the industrial and corporate face of the country. It is evincing investors’ interests from all corners of the world. We have also ensured that the investment proposals are processed fast and fructify faster. Gujarat is reckoned as the ‘Growth Engine of India’. The biggest enabler of this strength is the futuristic infrastructure which the State has created. In recent years, there is further focus on building world class infrastructure. They include the Special Investment Regions (SIRs), Industrial parks and Logistics parks. They are going to be the building blocks of Gujarat as a ‘Global Business Hub’. Moreover, because of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project, there are new and historic opportunities to partner in infrastructure and to set up industries, institutions and amenities. Our SIRs are going to be the global hubs of economic activity supported by efficient world class infrastructure. Also, they will have a policy framework based on the best practices in the world. We invite the global investor community, particularly from Japan, to examine the potentials in Gujarat.

To give a shape to Japan-Gujarat business relations, we invited Japan to become partner in our Global Investors’ Summit. We are grateful to the Government of Japan for this partnership. It is adding to the confidence of Japanese and Gujarati businessmen. Almost on a daily basis there is Japanese company or delegation to explore the potential in Gujarat. We are committed to help them and to give them not only a good working environment but also a good quality of life. That is why we are setting up two Japanese townships. These townships will provide full eco-system for the people, managers and workers from Japan. It will include among others, Japanese language schools, Japanese restaurants, and of course, golf courses.

Gujarat has the least unemployment in India. Moreover, there is complete co-operation between the industry and the work force.  There is almost No man days loss. To make the skill sector still better, we have created institutions to promote innovation and prepare the manpower for the same. In addition, we have promoted a number of new educational and training institutions including colleges and universities in specific domains. The intake capacity our engineering and other training institutes has increased five-fold in ten years. We are working towards becoming a scientifically driven society in the years to come.  Presently, our maximum focus is on social and human development. I want to achieve the human development index of the developed countries. In the urban sector some of our projects including mass rapid transport have been a global success story. There are a number of such examples. Our Government is promoting e-governance in a big way. This is bringing lot of speed, accuracy and transparency in the system. We have been getting National and international awards for our social projects and administrative interventions on a regular basis. This includes UN Public Service Award and the Asia Innovation Award.  

Friends! I have been dreaming and saying that I want to make Gujarat ‘a globally preferred place to live in and to do business’. I have also said that whatever best happens on the earth, must happen in Gujarat. Going further, I want to see Gujarat as a technology based society and as an innovator.  And all this is to be done on a sustainable basis. This is necessary so that, we do not enjoy only in the present generation.  We must leave the same potentials and opportunities for the future generations. To make all this doable and sustainable, we need to modernize our technology and practices. All this needs investment. In Gujarat’s case, the requirement is huge and immediate because our dreams are big, our time frame is shorter and our capacity to execute is substantial. And this creates the opportunity for foreign investors.

Friends! I have been thinking that Japan has the strength of experience; Gujarat has the power of enterprise. Japan has Technology; Gujarat has the talent to absorb it. Japan has the keenness for discipline; Gujarat has the zeal for perfection. If the two sides can meet; we can create not only a great future for ourselves, but for the whole world community. Together, we can give a lot to the world. Particularly, we both are keen on low cost, zero defect manufacturing and efficient managerial processes. Let us join hands. Our strengths are complementary.  I invite the Japanese industry to Gujarat. I invite the Japanese people to Gujarat. I invite you to make your own home in Gujarat, your own Japan in Gujarat. We would be happy to give you the environment and encouragement in doing that.

 

Thank You! 

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Today I have come to speak on a very important subject, especially to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of the country! Today every citizen of India is watching how the flight of women power has been stopped. Their dreams have been ruthlessly crushed. Despite our utmost efforts, we could not succeed, the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act could not be passed! And for this, I seek forgiveness from all the mothers and sisters.

Friends,

For us, national interest is paramount, but when for some people party interest becomes everything, when party interest becomes bigger than national interest, then women power and national interest have to bear the consequences. This time too, the same has happened. The selfish politics of parties like Congress, DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party has harmed the women power of the country.

Friends,

Yesterday, the eyes of crores of women in the country were on Parliament, the women power of the nation was watching. I too felt very sad to see that when this proposal in favor of women fell, parties like Congress, DMK, TMC, and SP, family-oriented parties, were clapping with joy. By snatching away the rights of women, they were thumping the tables. What they did was not just thumping on the tables, it was a blow to the self-respect and dignity of women. And women forget everything, but they never forget their insult. Therefore, the pain of the behavior of Congress and its allies in Parliament will always remain in the hearts of women. Whenever the women of the country see these leaders in their areas, they will remember that it was these very people who celebrated in Parliament when women’s reservation was stopped, they rejoiced. To those parties who opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan amendment in Parliament yesterday, I will say clearly: these people are taking women power for granted. They are forgetting that the women of the 21st century are watching every event in the country, they are sensing their intentions, and they have fully understood the truth. Therefore, for opposing women’s reservation, the sin committed by the opposition will surely bring punishment to them. These parties have also insulted the sentiments of the framers of the Constitution, and they will not escape the punishment from the people either.

Friends,

The Nari Shakti Vandan amendment was not about taking anything away from anyone. The Nari Shakti Vandan amendment was about giving something to everyone, it was an amendment to give. It was about giving women the right that has been pending for 40 years, from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections onwards.

The Nari Shakti Vandan amendment was a great effort to give new opportunities, new flight, and to remove obstacles from the path of the women of 21st century India. It was a sacred effort made with clear intent and honesty to give rights to 50% of the country’s population. It was an effort to make women co-travelers in India’s journey of development and to include everyone. The Nari Shakti Vandan amendment is the demand of the time. The Nari Shakti Vandan amendment was an effort to equally increase the strength of every state, North, South, East, West. It was an effort to give more strength to the voice of every state in Parliament. Whether the state is small or big, whether the population is less or more, it was an effort to increase everyone’s strength in equal proportion. But this honest effort has been subjected to foeticide in Parliament by Congress and its allies, foeticide. Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, DMK—these parties are guilty of this foeticide. They are criminals against the Constitution of the country, they are criminals against the women power of the country.

Friends,

Congress hates the subject of women’s reservation, it has always conspired to stop women’s reservation. Every time efforts were made in this direction, Congress obstructed them. This time too, Congress and its allies relied on one falsehood after another to stop women’s reservation. Sometimes about numbers, sometimes in other ways, Congress and its allies tried to mislead the country. By doing so, these parties have revealed their true face before the women power of India. They have removed their mask.

Friends,

Personally, I had hoped that Congress would correct its decades-old mistake. Congress would repent for its sins. But Congress lost the opportunity to create history, to stand in favor of women. Congress has already lost its existence in most parts of the country. Congress is surviving like a parasite, riding on the back of regional parties. But Congress does not even want regional parties to grow stronger, so Congress conspired politically to push the future of many regional parties into darkness by making them oppose this amendment.

Friends,

Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, TMC, and other parties have, for so many years, every time created the same excuses, the same false arguments, always inserting some technical snag, and they have looted the rights of women. The country has understood this ugly pattern of politics, and it has also understood the reason behind it.

Brothers and sisters,

One big reason for the opposition to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act is the fear of these family-oriented parties. They fear that if women become empowered, then the leadership of these family-oriented parties will be in danger. They will never want women outside their families to move forward. Today, in Panchayats and local bodies, thousands and millions of women have proven their capability. When they want to move forward into Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, when they want to serve the country, these family-oriented parties feel insecure. After delimitation, there will be many more seats for women, women’s stature will increase, and that is why these people opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan amendment. The women power of the country will never forgive Congress and its allies for this sin.

My dear countrymen,

Congress and its allied parties are continuously, continuously lying about delimitation. They want to ignite the fire of division under this pretext. Because “divide and rule” politics is something Congress inherited from the British. And Congress is still running on that same path today. Congress has always fueled sentiments that create rifts in the country. Therefore, this lie was spread that delimitation would harm some states! Whereas the government has made it clear from the very first day that neither the proportion of participation of any state will change, nor will anyone’s representation be reduced. In fact, the seats of all states will increase in equal proportion. Yet Congress, DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party were not ready to accept this.

Friends,

This amendment bill was an opportunity for all parties and all states. If this bill had passed, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, every state’s seats would have increased. But because of their selfish politics, these parties betrayed even the people of their own states. For example, DMK had the chance to make more Tamil people MPs and MLAs, to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s voice! But it lost that chance. TMC also had the chance to advance the people of Bengal. But TMC too lost that chance. Samajwadi Party had the chance to reduce the stain of its anti-women image. But SP missed it too. SP has already forgotten Lohia ji. By opposing the Nari Shakti Vandan amendment, SP trampled all of Lohia ji’s dreams underfoot. SP is anti-women reservation, and the women of UP and the country will never forget this.

Friends,

By opposing women’s reservation, Congress has once again proved one thing. Congress is an anti-reform party. For a developed India in the 21st century, whatever decisions, whatever reforms are necessary, whatever decisions the country takes, Congress opposes them, rejects them, obstructs them. This is the history of Congress and this is Congress’s negative politics.

Friends,

This is the same Congress that opposed the trinity of Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile. Congress opposed digital payments. Congress opposed GST. Congress opposed reservation for the poor in the general category. Congress opposed the law against triple talaq. Congress opposed the removal of Article 370. Our Constitution, our courts, have said that the Uniform Civil Code, UCC, is necessary, but Congress opposes that too. At the very mention of reform, Congress runs with placards of protest. Any work that strengthens the country, Congress puts all its strength into creating obstacles in it. Congress opposes One Nation One Election. Congress opposes driving out infiltrators from the country. Congress opposes purification of the voter list, SIR. Congress opposes reforms in the Waqf Board.

Friends,

Congress even opposed the CAA law that gave security to refugees. By lying and spreading rumors, it created a storm in the country. Congress obstructs the country’s efforts to end Maoist–Naxalite violence. Congress has had only one pattern: whenever a reform comes, lie, spread confusion. History is witness, Congress has always chosen this negative path.

Friends,

Whatever decision is necessary for the country, Congress sweeps it under the carpet. Because of this attitude of Congress, India has not reached the heights of development it deserves. At the time of independence, many other countries were freed along with us. Most of those countries went far ahead of us, and the reason was that Congress kept blocking every reform. Delay, diversion, obstruction—this was Congress’s principle, this was Congress’s work culture. Congress delayed border disputes with neighboring countries. Congress delayed water-sharing disputes with Pakistan. Congress delayed the decision on OBC reservation for 40 years. Congress delayed One Rank One Pension for soldiers for 40 years.

Friends,

This attitude of Congress has always caused great harm to the country. The nation has suffered from every opposition, every indecision, every deceit of Congress. Generations of the country have suffered. Today, all the major challenges before the country have arisen from this attitude of Congress. Therefore, this fight is not just about one law, this fight is against Congress’s anti-reform mentality, which is filled only with negativity. And I have no doubt that the women and daughters of the country will give a strong reply to this mentality of Congress.

Friends,

Some people are calling the breaking of the dreams of the women of the country a failure of the government. But this subject was never about success or failure, never about credit. I had said in Parliament too: let half the population get their rights, I will give the credit to the opposition by publishing advertisements with all their photos. But those who look at women with outdated thinking still stuck to their lies, remained firm!

Friends,

The fight to give women power participation has been going on for decades. For years, I too have been among those making efforts for it. So many women have raised this subject before me. So many sisters have written letters to me explaining everything. My country’s mothers, sisters, daughters—I know you are all sad today. I too share in your sorrow. Today, even though we did not get the required 66 percent votes to pass the bill, I know that 100 percent of the women power of the country has blessed us. I assure every woman of the country: we will remove every obstacle in the path of women’s reservation. Our courage is high, our determination unbreakable, and our resolve unwavering. The parties opposing women’s reservation will never be able to stop the women power of this country from increasing their participation in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. It is only a matter of time. The BJP–NDA’s resolve for the empowerment of women power is intact. Yesterday we did not have the numbers, but that does not mean we lost. Our inner strength is invincible. Our effort will not stop, our effort will not pause. We will have more opportunities ahead. For the dreams of half the population, for the future of the country, we must fulfill this resolve. Thank you all very much.