scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeTalk PointTalk Point: You cannot miss the growth in Gujarat, unless blinded by...

Talk Point: You cannot miss the growth in Gujarat, unless blinded by voting preferences

Follow Us :
Text Size:

The Gujarat model of economic growth and development is premised on the claims of accelerated infrastructure development of roads, highways, dams, and a spike in foreign investment. But critics have said that moderate achievements have been over-hyped, and it does not account for the decline in social indicators. The Patidar agitation of 2015 further emphasised the waning job market in Gujarat.

Is the Gujarat model of economic growth and development a myth or reality?

It is the oldest truism in marketing that nothing fails more disastrously than an obvious lie. Let’s apply that test to Gujarat politics. Narendra Modi’s political opponents and ideological critics dismiss him as a mere marketing man. Now, if all the claims that Modi has made about economic growth, industrialisation, improvement in quality of life and so on are fallacious as his opponents insist, why has he continued to win so emphatically for 15 years?

Unless he has such super-human powers that he can even defy that time-tested marketing logic.

And if that is so, how come all the arguments of his opponents fail to convince the voters? They say that his claims of growth and development are all fiction, and that the Gujarat model is just a sham — unless you call the ghettoisation and political marginalisation of Muslims a success.

Voters are not convinced because it is an obvious lie.

Gujarat has seen visible and palpable growth. You can see it in its industry, its roads, 24-hour power supply (for almost a decade now), water management and urbanisation. You cannot miss it even if you spend a couple of days travelling through the state, talking to people. Unless, you are so blinded by your voting preferences, or your principled opposition to his ideology and the 2002 past that you choose not to see it.


Here are other sharp perspectives on the Gujarat model of economic growth:

Yoginder K. Alagh: economist and former union minister
Deepender Singh Hooda: MP, Congress
Maitreesh Ghatak: professor of economics, LSE
Tavleen Singh: author and columnist
Gaurang Jani: lecturer, dept of sociology, Gujarat University
Atul Sood: professor, JNU
Sushmita Dev: congress MP


Gujarat fixed its roads ahead of any other state in the west-central region. I say so as a frequent and extensive road-traveller, particularly during the elections. Its scheme of separating feeders for agriculture, industrial, commercial, and domestic use is a nationally-acknowledged and followed innovation. Dehej, Ankaleshwar, Hajira, Hallol, Jamnagar, Mundra (oops! Adani!!), Dholera, Pipavav, and Vapi are all global-sized industrial hubs. You can find much fault with them, on account of use of discretion, cronyism, or the environment. You can claim, as the Congress does in each campaign, that most of the industry was brought by them in their times, particularly under late Chiman Bhai Patel. But you can’t deny it exists.

Unless you are daft, or don’t know your marketing. Remember: nothing fails like an obvious lie. So, attack Modi in Gujarat on a dozen other things if you so wish: poor social indicators, lack of local leadership, remote-control rule from Delhi, or the condition of Muslims, tribals, and Dalits. You might have some chance of success. But not on economic, industrial, and infrastructural development and growth. It will fail.

Shekhar Gupta is Editor in Chief, ThePrint

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

14 COMMENTS

  1. Why does anyone want to thank Shekhar? Through this article he is hinting what needs to be targeted in sly manner. The leopard does not change its spot.

  2. Yes I do agree that the blinded people (by the Congress of course) are unable to see the development (or do not wish to).They should now open their eyes.For God sake please start believing others (facts and figures show all).If one can say bad then he should be able to listen good.

  3. Shekhar gupta purposefully remained silent on Sonia Gandhi interference in Tehlka probe. Shekhar never speaks on anything related to Sonia. Can Shekhar gupta call himself an Independent journalist??

  4. Every person critic of Modi criticising him on every issue. Is it not evident that Gujarat progresses so well under Modi regime even his critics like Rajiv Gandhi pratistan appreciated his achievements.
    Under sure circumstances should his critics feel any lacunas in Modi’s governance they can specifically pinpoint those errors and same time suggest acceptable remedies as it is duty of every citizens. If one Behave like Right is everybody’s right but responsibility is nobodies responsibility there won’t be any better of life.

  5. Funny, how the article hails the “development” and then, mentions, only by the way, the backwardness​ of the Adivasis, Moslems and others – so, we must guess that these are not of any importance.

  6. If u find Gujarat not developed why stay and pollute not a single non Gujarati on deputation in Gujarat leaves once he is stationed here so pls leave Gujarat and live a good life in your home state

  7. It’s a very rare occasion that a strident critic of Modi has admitted to development Mr. Modi brought to Gujarat during his 15 year leadership. I wish our mainstream journalists become objective in their criticism of Mr. Modi and do not behave like either spokes person of opposition or of BJP. To expect that from our opposition parties particularly Congress is like chasing a mirage. They are so blinded by their hate of Modi for having lost to him so badly that they do not see the blunder they are committing again and again is dismissing the good he has done to Gujarat. As a result, some genuine criticism of Mr. Modi fail to stick. Of course that does immense good to Mr. Modi..

  8. I really believed Gujarat development story and was a Modi fan who really believed that story until I saw Gujarat. Now I’m living in Saurashtra for last one and half years. No good education or hospital facilities, polluted air and water, corrupt police and politicians. I can list out many more. Whoever blindly believes the story are welcome to see and believe themselves. Pls don’t go to ahmedabad, surat or vadodara and tell me that Gujarat is developed. Development in Gujarat is selective and driven by caste. A person who cannot develop a state in 12.5 years, how is supposed develop a country which is more complicated than Gujarat?

    • Saurashtra is a congress base. If Modi cannot be credited for what he had done, can you think of anything other leader in India who has even a modicum of performance to bank on? Pappu?

    • Sir, I born and brought up in Saurashtra. Now stay in Rajkot. A businessman. I don’t know since how many yrs u r here. But if you have seen Saurashtra before 2000 you want comment like this. Condition of road, water for drinking and agriculture, electricity ect. It’s lots of improvement and further going on….

    • Sir, you are completely right. I live in Surat but my family hails from Amreli and I have experienced this paradoxical development in Gujarat. There are two types of cities in Gujarat, the first one is called Showcase cities while the rest of the cities are completely ignored cities. Leaving Rajkot which the economic hub of Saurashtra area the whole Saurashtra region comes in this ignored region. Gujarat has been one of the better-developed states even before BJP came to power but our current govts definition of development ends at Road, Water, and Electricity. States like Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Maharashtra are far ahead then Gujarat in most economic and social indicators but still people talk of Gujarat Model. Thousands of young IT and engineering graduates from Gujarat have to move out of the state to work in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad because there are very few jobs available in Gujarat. Gujarat is the only developed state in India which completely missed IT bandwagon due to our not so visionary leadership.

  9. Thanks shekharji At least you have honesty to accept the reality of Gujarat model of which every Gujarat I is proud of it irrespective of all gimmicks by Congress and Modi baiters Gujarat will vote for Modiji

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular