Kill Godhra issue forever: Assocham to Narendra Modi govt

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat, trade body Assocham today asked political parties not to rake up the post-Godhra riots issue.

"Our emphasis has been that for once and for all this particular matter (2002 Godhra riots issue) should be settled, because every time it is raked up, it sends a wrong message for a state like Gujarat," Assocham General Secretary D S Rawat told reporters.

"The state government should look at all its aspects and settle it so that this particular issue is killed forever," he said.

"Godhra victims should be given justice as soon as possible. Their plight should be resolved at the earliest," stated the report 'Assocham suggestions for Election Manifesto of Political Parties in Gujarat' released today.

Assocham has proposed a 15-point growth agenda to political parties for inclusion in their respective manifestos for the ensuing Gujarat Assembly elections with a view to create consensus on certain significant economic issues to attain double digit growth in the next decade.

The report, submitted to political outfits on how to reach next level of growth, suggests slew of measures like achieving secular harmonisation, giving freedom to media, skill development, cluster development, relaxation to MSME, focus on employment generation, among others.

The industry body has pitched for adoption of cluster development approach in Gujarat to spur employment in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Besides, an integrated cluster development programme is suggested by it to promote khadi and village industries, crafts, sericulture and handloom products.

"To deal with the issue of sickness amidst MSMEs, our emphasis has been that Gujarat model should be shifting to cluster development through Public Private Partnership (PPP). The state government should earmark the cluster and provide it infrastructure facilities like road, etc," Rawat said.

"Cluster for innovators, like in Haryana, is required in Gujarat, where all entrepreneurs are innovators," Assocham Gujarat Council Chairperson Bhagyesh Soneji said.

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