Press Statement issued by Shri L.K. Advani(Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha)at Surat on April 9, 2006

Today is the fourth day of my Yatra, and also its last day in Gujarat. I am overwhelmed by the enthusiastic solidarity that the Yatra has received from the people of Gujarat all along the route from Rajkot, from where I commenced my journey on the 6th of April.

I am grateful to the people of Gujarat, in villages as well as in towns and cities, for their rousing response to the Yatra. They braved the heat of summer to welcome the Yatra in large numbers and to listen to its message. I am especially thankful to the people of Surat. Their affection, enthusiasm and massive turnout at the meeting last evening have deeply moved me.

The response to the Yatra convinces me that the people of India are eager to listen, and lend their support, to a political communication if they find that the communication is sincere and pertains to the vital interests of the Nation. I have no doubt that the message of the Bharat Suraksha Yatra, jointly undertaken by my Party President Shri Rajnath Singh and myself, will touch the heart and mind of every patriot in every part of the country.

As I leave Gujarat and enter Maharashtra later in the day today, I am gratified by another fact about the start of the Yatra. We have encapsulated the theme of the Yatra as a "Nationwide Campaign against Terrorism and Divisiveness and for Good Governance." It therefore fills me with pride and immense satisfaction to know that my Party’s government in Gujarat has been able to establish a model of Good Governance and Development under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. I can think of no other example in Indian politics of a leader who, after being subjected to a malicious and prolonged campaign of vilification, has been able to impress even his critics with his determination, single-minded focus, integrity and a wide array of achievements in a relatively short time.

I recently came across a statement (of 31st January 2006) by the Confederation of Indian Industry which affirmed: "CII confident about Gujarat Economy surpassing the growth rate of 16% in coming years". Let me quote just two paras from that statement.

"After recovering from natural calamities such as cyclone, drought, and earthquake, Gujarat recorded impressive 15.4 per cent growth rate in the year of 2003-04, which has placed Gujarat at leading position not only in India but also amongst the leading countries in Asia. Considering the achievements of the state in industry, services and agriculture sectors and the commitment shown by the State Government under the able leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, CII is confident that Gujarat economy will surpass the growth rate of 16 per cent in coming years.

It is worth mentioning that in 2005, a Department of Industrial Promotion Policy (a body of the Central Government) report presented in the Lok Sabha informed parliamentarians that Gujarat with its Rs 94,000 crore investments had attracted the largest FDI coming to the country in the last five years. A recent World Bank South Asia report marked out Gujarat among the three most preferred investment destinations in the region. According to NIC, Government of India, from January 2005 to July 2005, the total investments worth Rs 52,879 crore took place in Gujarat, the highest in the country."

What is remarkable is that the Gujarat government’s achievements, first under Shri Keshubhai Patel and now under Shri Modi, have not only impressed captains of industry but also touched the lives of tribals, kisans, women, self-employed youth and the middle class. I heartily congratulate Shri Modi, his ministerial colleagues, Shri Vajubhai Vala (president of the state unit of the BJP) and the huge battle-tested army of BJP workers in the state for this achievement. I also urge them not to rest on laurels for their accomplishments so far. There is an immense lot of work to do. They should continue with greater unity and unwavering commitment their endeavour to build a vibrant, all-sidedly Developed Gujarat, as a precursor to and exemplar of our vision to make India a Developed Nation by 2020.

BJP condemns vandalisation of the Hindu temple in Minnesota

I am pained and appalled by the news that a major temple under construction in Minnesota, USA, has been vandalised on April 5, damaging large number of Hindu deities. Built by the Hindu Society of Minnesota at Mapple Grove near Minneapolis at a cost of $9 million, this temple was scheduled to be consecrated in June. The idols were specially transported from India.

I urge the American government to bring the culprits to book and also to ensure that such crimes of bigotry are not perpetrated on religious minorities in the US.