Triumphant Narendra Modi hits Delhi, rides roughshod over Centre for letting people down

Fresh from his electoral triumph, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi came to Delhi and hit out at at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led UPA's economic policies which "lack urgency or seriousness" in tackling economic crisis in India and the "sense of pessimism" in the 12th Five Year Plan.

"It seems that there is no urgency or seriousness in tackling economic crises facing the country. There has been a virtual lack of direction in the macroeconomic management of the country," Modi said at the 57th National Development Council (NDC) meting here. Copies of the speech were circulated at the venue.

The quaintly named 'Modinomics' has already acquired a lot of power behind it with Gujarat economy humming, arguably from the policies promoted by the 'saffron superman' and Modi is looking to establish himself as the man who has all the answers for the ills plaguing the Indian economy that have not been solved by the UPA despite almost 10 years of rule at the Centre.

Attacking the government for lowering the growth target for the 12th Plan, Modi said though the target of 9 per cent GDP growth, talked about last year, appeared ambitious, "it was not impossible to achieve if we had the political will to do what is necessary".

"In this context, it is painful to note the unmistakable sense of pessimism in the 12th Plan document...Significantly lowering the growth targets of the 12th Plan will further add to the mood of despondency and pessimism in the country and cast increasing doubts on the sustainability of the India Growth Story," he said.

Modi sought to project the Gujarat model of development by listing out the initiatives taken by him in various sectors including agriculture, urban development and decentralised planning.

Aside from the rousing reception by BJP supporters, Modi, who was sworn-in as chief minister for the fourth time yesterday, was greeted by several leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

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