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Modi reaches out to non-resident Gujaratis

Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, on Saturday addressed the Indians settled in the United States, particularly the non-resident Gujaratis, through a video conferencing from his official residence in Gandhinagar.

The occasion was the celebration, at New Jersey in the U.S. organised by the Overseas Friends of the BJP, of the BJP’s victory in the December State Assembly elections under Mr. Modi’s leadership.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office sources here, about 1,200 people collected at the Albert Hall in New Jersey as part of the celebration and heard Mr. Modi with rapt attention. Mr. Modi also answered questions put to him by his listeners in New Jersey after the end of his address. The organisation, particularly the non-resident Gujaratis (NRGs), were keen that Mr. Modi personally addressed them, but in view of the bitter experience a couple of years ago when the U. S. government refused to issue the Chief Minister a visa, the video conference through the satellite link was arranged for the occasion.

Broadband connectivity

Mr. Modi told the non-resident Gujaratis that his government was taking quick steps to provide broadband connectivity to all the 18,000 odd villages in the State. He said the work was expected to be completed in the next six to eight months after which they would be able to talk to their family members and relatives in their respective hometowns directly from the U.S. the way they were conversing with him through the video conference.

The Chief Minister said his government was taking the State towards the path of development at a rapid pace and by 2010, the golden jubilee year of the creation of Gujarat, the State should be at the pinnacle of progress.

He sought the support and co-operation of the wealthy NRGs for the development of the State.

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