On the Teachers’ Day Narendra Modi indicated that he has been mandated by the people of Gujarat to serve them till 2017 and he does not see dreams of becoming Prime Minister.
However, his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal on Monday urged BJP’s campaign committee chief not to limit himself in Gujarat and termed him as future of India.
Badal was guest of honour at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day Vibrant Gujarat Global Agriculture Summit-2013. During his speech, The Punjab Chief Minister considered Modi as ‘great leader of country’. He applauded Modi for his stupendous effort to organise a global summit in India and compared his leadership qualities with that of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, who also served the nation and were from Gujarat. He even addressed him “Sardar Modi”.
“We also want to organise such global event in February 2014 in Punjab,” he said. The Akali Dal leader’s suggestion on why this event is titled as Vibrant GujaratIJ Instead it should be Vibrant India Summit and his suggestion was also cheered by the audience at the function.
Badal said that he drinks milk given by ‘Gir Breed Cow’ of Gujarat. “Modiji has gifted a Gir Cow to me. Now the cow is getting older, so please send me a young cow,” his comment on lighter mood spread laughter.
Talking on Punjabi farmers’ agriculture land issue in Kutch district with mediapersons, Badal said that he is in discussion with Gujarat Government to resolve the issue. He, however, said that as the matter is sub-judicial he would not like to comment much on it. When asked about BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Badal said that Akali Dal and BJP are in harmonious relations and his party would accept the decision of BJP leadership.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Punjabi farmer families who have settled in Kutch held a meeting with Badal on the sidelines of the event. They invited Badal to visit Kutch along with his counterpart in Gujarat.
“Punjabi farmers are fortunate to have been residing in a State which is honest, good law and order situation and safer social life, and where sisters and daughters with gold ornament on can roam around even at midnight without fear. Punjabis have made their names wherever they have stayed worldwide,” said Badal during the conversation.