Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the country’s economy was in a bad shape because “nobody accepts responsibility”, and there was a need to take “decisive decision” to come out of this gloom.
Blaming the UPA government, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, speaking at an event organised by industry body FICCI here, said that “leadership matters” if the country was to come out of this situation.
“When we talk about growth, infrastructure comes in and that is dependent on the energy sector. Industries are shut because of shortage of fuel. Someone has to take responsibility. The reason for disappointment is that nobody accepts responsibility in this country,” he said, and questioned “do we need experts to correct this economic situation.”
Modi said one should not only be ready to receive accolades but also be ready to face the wrath.
“This is the reason for disappointment in our country. If the country gives us responsibility, then we have to accept that…. By running away, the country does not function.
“People ask me why didn’t you run away when bomb blast struck your rally in Patna. I said, If Modi had to run, he would not have been born,” he said.
The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate termed the 21st century as filled with promises and said it started as a century which would decide the direction of the country. “If we had decided strategy on implementation, work distribution, resource utilisation, we would have been a different country but we have lost that chance,” Modi said.
“At the end of the first decade of the 21st century there are question-marks all over the country. To come out of this gloom and question-marks will be the biggest challenge.”
“…That is why leadership matters. Decisive decision needs to be taken,” Modi said.
Taking on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said, “Our Prime Minister likes to speak about inclusive growth. Until we build capacity among poor through education, how can it happen?” (PTI)