“Narendra Modi: The Power of One”, Open the magazine, March 27, 2026
“AFTER HE became Gujarat chief minister on October 7, 2001, Narendra Modi immersed himself in fulfilling a destiny that beckoned him for long. Tumult within the Gujarat BJP following the “Hajuria- Khajuria” divide in 1995 saw Modi move out of the state for several years as central leaders tried to put a lid on internal power struggles. His absence however failed to restore order and as the Keshubhai government struggled to deal with the aftermath of the January 26, 2001 Bhuj earthquake, the BJP brass turned to Modi.
Modi began by leading a massive rehabilitation of Kutch that saw the construction of modern infrastructure and reconstruction of thousands of homes. Seeing an opportunity in the adverse situation, he decided the region could be transformed into a hub of modern agriculture while modern ports opened windows to the world. Many years later, inaugurating development projects on May 26, 2025, Modi said mangoes, dates, pomegranates, cumin and dragon fruit from Kutch are reaching global markets marking the metamorphosis of a region where forced migration was once common.
The torching of coach S6 of Sabarmati Express and death of 59 passengers, including women and children on February 27, 2001, at Godhra and the subsequent communal riots tested Modi in every way. Years of litigation followed before a special investigation team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court concluded in 2010 that there was no evidence that Modi failed to discharge his constitutional duties. The Supreme Court accepted the SIT’s final report submitted on February 8, 2012. BJP’s political rivals, activists and ideological opponents responded by criticising the SIT but by now Modi’s stock was rapidly rising on the national scene as a strong and decisive leader…….”
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