Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 07:19 am:

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When on Saturday evening, TV channels brought the news that Narendra Modi's visit to Uttarakhand to oversee relief operations had kicked off a major political storm, I decided to go and check for myself whether this was indeed a cheap publicity gimmick as alleged by the Congress or a serious response to a tragedy.

Here's my take, one that I know will find many disagreeing: those who call Modi a Rambo or a publicity-hungry politician have no clue what they are dealing with. Consider the following. Gujarat today has a fighting-fit bureaucracy because it was enabled to develop expertise, team spirit and deliver results under the most adverse circumstances.

The Gujarat Disaster Management Authority ( GDMA) has become a thoroughly professional institution capable of responding to natural or man-made disasters. It has a 24x7 monitoring system and well-publicised helpline numbers well known to Gujaratis - both in the country and abroad. Modi has succeeded in conveying to the citizens of Gujarat that the government is always there to serve them. That is why the first response of Gujaratis anywhere in the world is to contact the chief minister's office if they are caught in a calamity.

Also, consider this. Modi arrived in Delhi late 17th night for a meeting with the Planning Commission on 18th when news of cloudburst and landslides was telecast on TV. He held an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation since he knew that thousands of Gujaratis are likely to be among the Chardham pilgrims. Right away, a camp office was opened at Gujarat Bhavan and the Resident Commissioner's team in Delhi was made responsible for coordinating with Gujarati pilgrims.

Early-Mover Advantage

On the 18th morning, Modi called Dr Pranav Pandya of the All World Gayatri Parivar to provide space and infrastructure in his Shanti Kunj campus for the relief centre proposed to be set up by the Gujarat government . He chose this campus because of his close knowledge of, and rapport with, this Gandhian institution that can house and feed thousands of people at a short notice.

It has a 2,000-strong community of swayamsevaks on the campus, plus 3,000-odd students of the Dev Sanskriti University. The campus also has a well-run hospital.

On the 18th evening itself, a set of computers with internet connections , telephone lines, television sets and all other paraphernalia required for Gujarat government's relief operation were set up. Therefore, when a team of Gujarat government IAS, IPS and IFS officers came, they could get going within minutes of reaching Shanti Kunj.

Team Gujarat had two officers from Uttarakhand - Assistant Director General of Police Bisht and Forest Service officer SC Pant - who had close knowledge of the terrain to guide both the stranded pilgrims as well as rescue teams on the safest possible routes to take. ADG Bisht went straight to Gupta Kashi from where the rescue operations are being launched.

A team of seven doctors trained in handling such emergencies, led by an orthopaedic surgeon, not only put in place an efficient first-aid service but are also attending to those severely injured.

I saw them go around to other relief camps and railway stations to attend to non-Gujaratis as well. The mandate of Team Gujarat in Uttarakhand is: take good care of rescued pilgrims as they arrive but send them home at the earliest possible in the most comfortable manner. Don't worry about expenditure or numbers.

Smooth Operators

As always, officers on the ground have been empowered to take onthe-spot decisions, to decide how many buses or taxis they need, how many pilgrims need to be sent by air and what kind of aircraft to order. I saw senior IAS officers working 24x7 alongside very junior staff in one single room as a close-knit team.

When Modi landed in Dehradun, Team Gujarat was already in control. Far from attacking the state government , he offered all possible help.

Upset Congress

In addition, he synergised resources , energised BJP workers to get going, not just for immediate relief but also long-term reconstruction work. All his officers were provided phone numbers of BJP functionaries of all 190 blocks in Uttarakhand and vice versa. As usual, he worked to guide and streamline the operations. There was genuine spirit of cooperation and teamwork.

The Congress party is understandably upset because its chief minister has proved a disaster, its party machinery is in disarray, Congress Sewa Dal workers are nowhere in sight, Rahul Gandhi's Youth Brigade is clueless even in routine situations , leave alone know how to face a crisis like the Uttarakhand deluge.

That is the reality of the Uttarakhand relief operation led by Narendra Modi.

The writer is founder, Manushi, and professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

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Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 07:07 am:

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LUCKNOW: Amid war of words between Congress and BJP over reports that Narendra Modi had rescued 15,000 Gujaratis from Uttarakhand, BJP chief Rajnath Singh today said the Gujarat Chief Minister never gave such a statement.

"Modi went to Uttarakhand to express his sympathies and it is being said that he evacuated 15,000 Gujaratis from there. I myself talked to him and he said that he never gave any such statement, Singh told reporters here.

"How it is being publicised is beyond understanding," the BJP chief, who is on a two-day visit to the state, said.

Singh said he had appealed to party workers that no statement should be given to politicise Uttarakhand disaster.

"I have asked them that there is no need to be aggressive even if leader of any other political party make any statement," he said.

"BJP workers are sensitive and consider expressing sympathies and extending helping hand as their religion," Singh said.

Congress had attacked Modi saying he was trying to be a "Rambo" following reports that the Gujarat Chief Minister had helped in evacuating 15,000 Gujaratis who were stuck in Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile the BJP also announced a financial assistance of Rs five lakh each to the kin of those killed in the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand yesterday.

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Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 06:45 am:

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Let's not forget that while Modi was working like a horse, another potential prime ministerial candidate was probably enjoying the nightlife in Barcelona. Actions speak louder than words. If I were a potential prime ministerial candidate of my country, I have no other business but to be in my country at the time of crisis and take on a leadership role. And now, after the last of the birthday balloons have floated to nowhere land, Rahul Gandhi is rushing to Uttarakhand.

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Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 06:41 am:

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As the floodwaters ravaged townships that came in its path and as the media (despite a nice long time lag) relayed to India and to the rest of the world the horrific scenes, potential prime ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi allegedly celebrated his birthday in exotic Spain. Of course there is absolutely no harm in celebrating your birthday in Spain or Switzerland, but if you are projecting yourself as a potential leader of this country, you need to be present in the country at the time of crisis. More importantly, you need to take a leadership role in handling a crisis that engulfs the country. But, what does potential prime ministerial candidate do instead? He does what he does best, a disappearing act.

And what do the governing party’s loyals do? Again they do what they do best, bicker over relief operations that were conducted skillfully by another potential prime ministerial candidate. I am absolutely amazed at how Modi’s rather efficient operation has been dissected in the most callous manner. Modi is currently a head of state, his primary responsibility as of now remains with his state. Also, it is foolish to believe media reports that Modi saved only Gujaratis. Wrong. The relief operations enabled non-Gujarati lives to be saved as well. Rediff had reported how the disaster management team on the ground conducting the relief operations were highly motivated by the presence of Modi. Here is the link for how the relief operations were conducted in greater detail. There is no ‘saffron spin’ to this, as many like to believe.

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