Gujarat is dynamic growth story: Lord Desai

Ahmedabad, Nov 25 (UNI) Noted economist and UK's House of Lords' peer Lord Meghnad Desai said here today that Gujarat is doing perfectly well on the economic front and is a dynamic growth story.

The state has been ahead in economic progress for the last 100 years and has power of doing business, said Lord Desai, who was here to attend IIM-Ahmedabad Confluence 2008, while speaking to mediapersons yesterday.

''If we keep 2002 post-Godhra riots episode aside, Narendra Modi is an ideal Chief Minister. He is a good administrator, excellent leader, progressive visionary and governs efficiently without corruption. In fact, what people are saying now, I had said way back in 2004 that Modi would become India's Prime Minister after Advani,'' Lord Desai said.

Soon after the post-Godhra riots, Lord Desai had publically vowed that he would not set his foot on the Gujarat shore in protest against the riots in 2002.

But in the last ten months, Lord Desai had visited the state twice. In February, he visited Gujarat for the Bank of Baroda's function and now he was on a visit to Ahmedabad for IIM-A Confluence summit.

He said Mr Modi's victory in the 2007 state Assembly polls meant that the Gujarat delivered its verdict strongly in favour of him again. ''I decided to visit Gujarat then after. Earlier, when I had said I would not come to the state, it was a pain inside that I was expressing. Whatever happened in 2002 spoiled Gujarat's image worldover. I am not a professional protester, I am not a leader. I just said what I felt,'' he said.

UNI HT SR SW GC1757