After boycott threat, Narendra Modi 'retreats' from printing industry conference

An annual conference of printing industry, which ran into controversy after some of the participants pulled out protesting against an invite to Narendra Modi, was held here today, without the Gujarat Chief Minister.

A Gujarat Government official said Modi, who is in the national capital for BJP's National Executive Meeting, had not accepted the invitation to be the chief guest and a keynote speaker at the day-long conference.

It was third edition of conference of the printing industry – "Romancing Print 2013" – to find new avenues for business.

First held in 2011, the conference was developed with the intention to focus on core elements of the printing business and was based this time on the theme "Care".

"By 'Care' we mean those aspects that can help you remain in business as well as increase profit margins and find new vistas in the field," said Conference Chairman Satish Malhotra.

Those who addressed the conference included motivational speaker Shyam Taneja, Heidelberg's Ashokan Krishnamoorthy and journalist Vijay Kumar Chopra.

Earlier this week, several members of the All India Federation of Maste Printers, which organised the event, withdrew from it to protest the participation of Narendra Modi as the chief guest.

Two of the media partners for the event – Mumbai-based Printweek India and Delhi-based Indian Printer and Publisher (IPP) - had withdrawn their support to the event, according to Indu Chandrasekhar of Tulika Books.

The conference was organised by All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) in association with PRESSIdeas.

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