India Inc cries Modi-fy India, causes flutter

The praise of two leading industrialists - Anil Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal - for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and suggestions that he could be the prime minister has created a flutter in the political circles. On CNN-IBN's India At 9 Talking Point to debate the issue were Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and former chairman of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce Paru Jai Krishna.
CNN-IBN: There was a comment from a Congress spokesperson saying that the situation was a bit like how German industrialists used to praise the Nazi regime. Is that fair? Isn't it time now for as far as the Congress is concerned to move from 2002 (Godhra riots)? We have seen industry move from 2002 and the people of Gujarat move from 2002.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: Well I would put it a little differently. I'd like to make three points. Firstly, it's a democracy and each person is entitled to their own view. For every two persons who praise Mr Modi and want him to become prime minister, perhaps you can lineup some 2,000 who will have an opposite viewpoint. So let's not go by the view of two people. These two people do not constitute the electorate. Number two, don't forget that they were talking in the context of an industry investment meet. What is very good for getting investments is not necessarily good for being prime minister. Number three, what you may be able to get in a divisive debate generated in Gujarat would not again be easily replicable to the rest of India. A prime minister has to truly observe raj dharma, he has to be prime minister for every section of society, he has to carry everyone together and there is very serious doubt from the past record of Mr Modi - howsoever good it might have been for Gujarat, where he was able to divide society - whether he can have the same raj dharma or an inclusive kind for the whole country. It is a legitimate concern.
Last but not the least, we are a far cry away from that so I think that there is no point in speculating. Even within his own party, there are enough people to put daggers into him for that post and none within his party are likely to make it to that post.
CNN-IBN: Mr Singhvi, the Congress likes to make that point that Modi's success is not translatable to the rest of the country, yet what you are hearing is not speculation from the media, but words coming out of the mouths of two of India's most respected and biggest industrialists. Are you seeing a certain change now? Are you seeing Narendra Modi's credibility as a national leader growing?
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: One swallow doesn't make a summer. A successful investment meet and observations by industrialists in the context of an investment meet has no political significance, let me assure you. India is a diverse country, it's a country of so many colours and hues. They were just two comments. It is being made out like an absolute poll survey. So what if two people said it? There are many who don't. How is it relevant? Please do not take it as an India view.
CNN-IBN: Fair enough. That is a valid point. A lot of this love, as far as corporate India is concerned, for Narendra Modi is because of these figures that we keep hearing about, of the large amount of investments that are coming into Gujarat. There is talk of Rs 12,000 crore that is being pledged in this Vibrant Gujarat Summit. How much of that is actually going to turn into investment? Is this just a good business hype that Narendra Modi continues to carry on?
Paru Jai Krishna: I think everyone has the right to carry an opinion but the way Vibrant 2009 has happened and the way the doyens of industry, the prudent and the conservative people have come to invest in Gujarat shows the confidence they have in the state. And here is a man who is an iron man - like Sardar Patel. He has proved that everything does not happen on its own. One has to make it happen and he has done it. When he took over the reins of Gujarat, people doubted that he would ever be a good administrator. Today he has proved them all wrong.
CNN-IBN: Ok, you are talking about the fact that he has proved himself as far as investment goes, but he remains one man who cannot travel to US, his visa has been denied. This is one of the biggest investment destinations and US is a big investor in India. How can you say that his magic could possibly translate even outside Gujarat?
Paru Jai Krishna: There is some magic in his management style. The investments have come not only within India, but have come from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Africa, Europe and also America, so it is not that just by personally going to the US will he bring in investments.