Author: Manas Dasgupta
Publication: The Hindu
Date: December 26, 2002
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/12/26/stories/2002122603761100.htm
The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra
Modi, has assured the people of "rule of law and administration of justice
to all".
In his first media conference after
the elections here today, Mr. Modi expressed apprehension of more Pakistan-
sponsored terrorist attacks in the State and said that along with the border
security, internal security would have to be strengthened and modernised
to "face the coming challenges".
Assuring the people that his Government
would adhere to the "rule of law" following the cardinal principle of "appeasement
to none, justice to all", Mr. Modi reiterated that the law would take its
own course in the riot-related offences. Considerable progress had been
made in some of the cases and all would be taken to the logical end.
He, however, refused to answer a
question on his "plans" to allay the apprehensions of the minority communities
about the BJP administration following the riots and chided the media for
continuing to raise such issues.
"It is my request to the media to
bury the past and not to try to create divisions among the communities
by harping on the communal divide. The minorities are safe and are living
happily with the majority communities even in the villages and no one should
try to rub salt into their wounds," he said. The people of Gujarat by nature
were peaceloving and valued goodwill, and the Government could not allow
man-made obstacles to come in the way of the State's progress.
Flanked by the Chief Secretary,
G. Subba Rao, and his Principal Secretary, P.K. Misra, Mr. Modi addressed
the media conference. Almost all members of his new Cabinet were present
but none of them was on the dais; they were occupying the front chairs
in the audience.
Gujarat had the capacity to live
up to the Planning Commission's expectations to register a 10 per cent
growth rate, two per cent more than the national average, and his Government
was committed to achieving the goal by optimum utilisation of human and
natural resources.
Among the short-term measures, he
said, would be re- prioritisation of the works left incomplete by his previous
administration and the long-term measures would include developing the
infrastructure base for human development as well as agricultural and industrial
progress.
"The agenda would be taking up programmes
to ensure economic stability at the macro level by increasing productivity,
fiscal discipline, checking unproductive expenditure, tightening revenue
collection, taking austerity measures, phased restructuring and disinvestment
of the State public sector undertakings."
He said that though most of the
State public sector undertakings were making profits, it was his belief
that running businesses was not the Government's job and that it should
disinvest from even the profit-making ones. Government officials would
be encouraged to become "karmayogi" with rewards for the best employees
and penalties for the wilful defaulters.
"A clause of responsibility and
accountability will be introduced to provide a transparent and clean administration."
Bio-technology, information technology,
marine engineering, ocean technology and other modern sciences would be
given priority to lay the foundation for a "21st century Gujarat".
The Government proposed to set up
a "Buddhisagar Parishad", a think-tank of experts and professionals to
advise the Government on various measures.
Besides ensuring the earliest possible
implementation of the Narmada dam project and the construction of about
1.5 lakh check dams in the next five years, the Government would lay stress
on rainwater-harvesting schemes. All housing projects would be asked to
install such systems to avoid wastage of water.
The Government, Mr. Modi said, was
committed to ensuring the "five crore Gujaratis" their right to live with
dignity and self-respect in a "peaceful, prosperous and powerful State
without fear. The Governments will protect the righteous and moral values
and deal strictly with those who indulge in economic offences and mafia-like
activities."
