Narendra Modi’s purported ‘development’ of Gujarat took centre stage at the business discussion meant to brainstorm a list of suggestions that industry barons would like to see in the State Industrial policy.
Starting the trend was Anil Kher an immediate past president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa Council who said that the ‘Modi model’ brought in transparency in the State of Goa.
“This was the first time that the allotment of plots by the IDC (Industrial Development Corporation) was carried out in a fair and transparent manner. It was based on the Gujarat model,” said Anil Kher referring to the change in system of allotment of plots allotment of Industrial plots in Goa after the BJP-led Government came to power.
Under seven years of Congress rule, the allotment of plots in Industrial Estates across the State has been plagued by scams with Congress Gover
nment being arm-twisted by industry to form a task force to probe into illegal allotment of plots. According to Kher, an educationist, transparency advocated by what he termed was ‘Modi model’ was the reason, which found concurrence from Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manguirish Pai Raikar.
“This transparency in plot allotment is what we learnt from the Gujarat Government. This was perhaps the first time that the allottee was allowed to choose a plot, instead of being allotted one. The latter method kept doors open for partisanship,” Raikar said at the seminar.
Yet another industrialist present at discussion, Arun Naik managing director of Goa-based Merit Parmaceuticals and former head of the Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association said what was relevant to note was how Modi managed to attract investment to the State.
“He makes people feel wanted. That is why he has attracted so much investment there,” Naik said recounting an instance where a Goan industrialist who had invested in Gujarat was personally received at the airport by the Chief Minister.
The lone opponent of Modi was former Congressman and current independent legislator who said that the ‘Modi model’ would spell disaster for Goa.
“We do not want a replication of Modi’s model here because his success story began with Godhra. We do not want that kind of development here,” Sardessai said, who alleged that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was only keen on following Gujarat’s mode of development.
But, a question from Kher about former Congress Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s comment following the 1984 Sikh riots, when the latter reportedly said: “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes” led Sardessai to say he was equidistant from both the Congress and the BJP dodging the question from Kher.
The objective of the meeting was to draw up a charter of ideas and suggestions for the Goa Government, which is in the process of formulating an investment policy, before making a push for investments into the State.
That Modi took centre stage, however, got the goat of some of the members. “Are we here to discuss business or politics,” a start up entrepreneur who did not wish to be named said.