FREMONT: Rahul Roy, an entrepreneur and philanthropist of Silicon Valley, had the privilege of meeting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on August 17 and was greatly impressed by the passion and vision he has for the development of not only Gujarat but entire India. That is why he seemed to him the fittest person to lead India as Prime Minister.
The meeting was arranged by his friend Kaushlendra Singh Ji, the Raja of Rai Bareily in UP. Roy says the Chief Minister embraced him and said he was well aware of what he did and also his philanthropic work in America, as well as in India.
He said, “Rahul Ji you are very much invited to do something in the state of Gujarat and I will help you in every possible way to start any enterprise which is going to help the people of Gujarat.” Rahul promised to start a global university on the soil of Gujarat.
Rahul Roy happened to be present when Mr Modi was having a press conference. One journalist asked him, “What have you done for the Muslims in Gujarat.” Modi replied, “Nothing.” But he went on to add, “Let me tell you all Gujaratis, whether they are Hindus or Muslims, are better off than in any other part of India. That is why the Muslims of Gujarat are the richest Muslims of India. Why is that? Because in Gujarat there is no discrimination. Gujarat is for Gujaratis, regardless of what creed, what caste, what religion they come from. They are all part of the improvement, advancement and the prosperity of Gujarat.”
Rahul Roy commented, “Now that is something very impressive. That is what you call a real secular Gujarat.”
Here are excerpts from the
India Post interview with Mr Rahul Roy:
Rahul Ji, how & why did Chief Minister Narendra Modi impress you?
Rahul Roy: I see in Mr Modi qualities of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and Netaji Subhash Chander Bose. Netaji was strong as iron so was Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Now India is actually in worse situation than it was under the British.
Our poverty level has increased, our cultural heritage is doomed, thus our backbone is lost. As Indians we have completely lost our identity in India. The only identity we have is to make money by hook or by crook.
Mr Narendra Modi impresses me because he carries a passion, he carries a vision and he has the drive to fulfill it. I can see that in Gujarat he has done it. And Gujarat in 10 years will be a better place than where it is today because there is a continuous progress going on. The improvement that I saw in Gujarat under this leader, I want to see the same in entire India, including my state of West Bengal and in Uttar Pradesh.
I have seen Mr. Modi going through so many accusations and charges by the government, by judiciary, by police, the CBI, the media, the ruling party and some supporting parties. In spite of all the political pressure and threats of putting him behind bars, he comes through cool and soft, with his integrity and honesty, he declares, “Why would I have to be scared if nothing wrong has been done.”
He always said,” My hands were never in riots.” He criticizes and is angry about what has happened, the things were beyond his control. But the media does not pick up the Sikh riots; what Congressmen did at Rajiv Gandhi’s instruction!
Modiji is a man of courage and he is a man of all religions. His only message to the people is that he will never tolerate any terrorist from any community, whether it is Hindu or Muslim. He will not tolerate any Jehadi from any religion. People have to abide by the law, and one law and there should not be any discrimination against any weaker section or any minority.
Do you have any political ambition? Given a chance, would you like to go and do something for the society or the people there?
RR: Not as a politician but I am already doing it as an individual. I would like it if my work is appreciated and accepted say by the ruling dispensation, then it gives you more strength. I have discussed it with Narendra Modiji. if God is kind and he becomes the Prime Minister of India and I am given a chance as a individual or philanthropist, I have enough good, Indian origin people living inside and outside India, who will help India. That would be on a much bigger scale than what I am doing on my own today. It will be more collective because now I have the assurance from the national leader. So I need that backing but do not need to be a politician or be running for election and become the part of a system which is still not very clean. Like Anna Hazare has said he does not need to enter politics to clean it. It can be done better by being outside the system. I totally believe in it but you still need a connection, means you still have to have backing from the Government and also acceptance from the people; then you can deliver. My dream is very clear as Mr Modi said; a strong, united, secular and prosperous India.
There are a lot of people like you here in the US. How can you take them along in your vision?
RR: According to the latest census report approximately 1.3 million people live here and out of that, my guess is that about 75,000 to 80,000 have relatives back in India. India has a cross country culture and Hindus and Sikhs have to be together. We are the same community, we are the same people. For Indian Muslims also, who really love India, it is said in their Holy Book that your motherland is supreme.
If we all love India and want to see it prosperous we should not be scared of rumors that the ruling party and media spread all the time. Mr Modi is a candidate to become the National Leader; he should be our next Prime Minister. If we all believe in that then I request all Indians of all religions that we should make a call to all the relatives and give them an example of Gujarat.
Gujarat has a big population of Muslims and they are affluent out there. I have personal Muslim friends in Gujarat. I talked to them, yes we all condemn, we all are angry at what has happened and it was wrong, and right people has been put behind the bars.
A judgment has been delivered, what has happened should never have happened. Riots should never happen in India. We are one country and we are one people. The only way to reach that level is to eliminate the coward and corrupt people from the government.
If we remove corruption and replace it with better education for everybody; lay a strong economic and financial foundation which will create opportunities for everybody, then India will become a very vibrant country. All the dreams will come true and the future generation will reap the benefits.
(Rahul Roy has five companies in Silicon Valley. Four companies were acquired. His Mirror+ merged with ARC and for the last 12 years it has been a public company in New York Exchange. He has 7000 engineers working for him and he has been serving the community for the last 25 years as a philanthropist)
Rakesh Kapoor
India Post News Service
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