A 'Gujarat Experiment' in Karnataka!

Whatever has happened to Gujarat's Narendra Modi? The BJP strongman has suddenly turned comatose, with nary a soundbyte. Even a predatory media feeding on the bogey that it foisted on him - with some help from him - and pushed it to the mainstream, has almost forgotten his existence. Maybe he has earned his spurs, and even gained a grudging acceptance from the mainstream media. But the truer answer would be he's pursuing his new found passion with vengeance - of giving a developmental thrust to his agenda and making Gujarat the number one State in the country.

At an interaction meeting between the business fraternity of Karnataka and the SSI Minister last week, speaker after speaker lavished wholesome praise on Gujarat's strongman, referring to the remarkable progress his State has made on the infrastructure front viz. good motorable roads, assured power and water supply, efficient drainage system, apart from an industry-friendly tax regime.

The industrialists prevailed upon the Minister to lead a delegation to Gujarat and study how Modi's government brought about this transformation, and replicate the 'Gujarat experiment' in Karnataka.

Interestingly, this was not a political forum. The audience essentially comprised men of industry, which means the words of praise for Modi had real value. For these battle-scarred men, he was doing something right for the industry, for the people, and for the development of the State.