Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas: CMs put best foot forward to attract investment from NRIs

GANDHINAGAR: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday harped on the economic situation in 1998 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister of the country, inheriting a financial legacy which was similar to the condition when Mahatma Gandhi launched his freedom struggle pre-1947, and claimed that Narendra Modi is trying to realize Vajpayee’s dream of making India strong and self-reliant.

“Vajpayee transformed the economy in which we are today and our current PM is taking forward this initiative to make our country strong and self-reliant,” Singh told the Non Resident Indians, appealing to them to make use of the current opportunities to invest in India.

With Chief Ministers of Haryana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkand by his side, the Home Minister told the NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin, “We are proud of you. Whatever you have achieved today is because of your hard work, determination and skills,” Singh said amid applause.

Pointing out that Indian federalism is different from many other models worldwide, Singh claimed that there’s no competitive federalism in this country. He urged the NRIs who have travelled from far and wide to take advantage of the different state government’s offerings.

Even as the Home Minister appreciated the absence of competitive federalism in India, all Chief Ministers did their best to hardsell their states as investment destinations. While Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal rued that his state his now being targeted for encouraging banned drugs even as he highlighted opportunities there.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu made a power-point presentation on the opportunities in his state which has been divided into two entities. Kerala CM dwelt on the poor working conditions of Keralites in the Gulf and called for online voting system.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan stole the show as he delivered an extempore and animated speech and emphasized that his state has done a ‘single door’ and not just window to welcome investors.

The last day of the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) also witnessed separate state presentations by many states on the opportunities in their respective states. Besides there were separate sessions on PIOs who went as indentured labourers, NRIs in Gulf and PIOs & NRIs in Francophone countries.