I don’t dream, but keep working: Modi on PM aspirations
New Delhi, 16 Mar 2013 (IANS): Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday dodged questions on whether he wanted to be prime minister, saying his mantra in life is "don’t dream of becoming, but dream of doing" and added that though he had never dreamt of becoming chief minister, he became one.
At the India Today conclave here, Modi, asked if he was willing to be prime minister to replicate his successful Gujarat model in the country, said he learns from people who do good work.
"If anyone does good work, I call them and learn how they do it. Like a student, I listen and then I apply it in Gujarat. If the Gujarat model of development is appreciated, then why not learn from it.. It is not necessary for me to come to Delhi."
To persistent questioning on whether he wanted to be PM, the chief minister whose state has notched impressive nine percent growth and all round development, said: "In my life there is a mantra, which when I meet youngsters I tell them to keep in mind. Don’t dream of becoming, dream of doing… Keep doing and let it find its own way."
He said children are told by parents that they should grow up to be doctors and engineers. "This weighs on their minds. When they take up jobs of teachers later, they always have in the back of their minds that they are unsuccessful and that they could not become doctors."
"In my life, I don’t dream of becoming but only to keep doing. I never thought of becoming chief minister, but became one. No astrologer told me that I would be chief minister.. I keep doing whatever work my people give me."
Asked if anyone in his Bharatiya Janata Party was stopping him from coming to New Delhi, he said: "Look, I am sitting in Delhi, nobody is stopping me!" to loud laughter.
Comments on this Article | |
Philip Mudartha, Qatar | Sun, March-17-2013, 2:59 |
I watched his entire speech podcast live by India Today and the Q A session. Modi, no doubt, came out as a live-wire hands-on executive to an adoring audience. Until he goofed at the end. He was asked if he will take responsibility to 2002 Gujarat since he was CM. No one asked him if he was guilty. No one asked him if he was directly or indirectly involved. The question was not of guilt, blame or regret, penance, etc. It was about ownership of failure of state administration in safeguarding the lives of citizens. I felt, if he could have shown some more humility in his replies. Alas, he did not. The Damocles sword will stay over his head, unfortunately. An otherwise, able and competent politician, strategist and administrator, but not yet a noble mind. |