Apco Worldwide denies working for Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: American lobbying giant Apco Worldwide has strongly denied that it works for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, clarifying that its contract with "only" the state government to promote the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Summit ended on March 31, 2013.

"Currently, we have no working relationship with the government of Gujarat," it said in a statement. Apco's work for the Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), the state government's nodal agency for investments, concluded after the most recent Vibrant Gujarat in January 2013, it added.

The statement follows reports that credited Apco with feeding the media with "stories of how Modi personally rescued" 15,000 pilgrims from Gujarat who were stranded in Uttarakhand after the recent flash floods. "Apco is not involved in any media activities relating to the rescue efforts," the release said.

A senior executive of Apco India said he hoped the statement will end once and for all the constant, albeit wrong recognition the company receives for promoting Modi. The Gujarat government, and not Modi, had hired Apco in 2009 and 2011 to help position the state as a global investment destination, he said, asking not to be named.

Apco, one of the largest and best-known lobbying firms in the US, has denied several times in the past any connection to the publicity campaign of Modi. In an earlier interview with ET Magazine, Margery Kraus, founder and CEO, Apco Worldwide, said, "We do not work for chief minister Modi and we do not speak for him."

Modi, the opposition BJP's leading candidate as prime minister in the approaching general elections, is arguably the most visible public figure in India. Apco has been unable to shake off talk of the association with Modi because Vibrant Gujarat happens to be the showpiece investment gathering of the controversial politician.

The Apco executive who requested anonymity said the company has good working relations with many state governments - led by the ruling Congress as well as the BJP. "We are in advanced discussions with many states for major contracts," he said.