Chetan Bhagat calls on Narendra Modi to shift to national politics

Saying that there was a dearth of good leaders in the country, best-selling writer Chetan Bhagat today called on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to play a bigger role in the national politics.

Bhagat was speaking at a seminar organised by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), attended by the chief minister and Dileep Modi, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), among others.

Bhagat, the author of novels such as `Five Point Someone' and `2 States', said the chief minister was the best orator and he was feeling nervous speaking in Modi's presence.

"When I came to Ahmedabad, I felt Gujaratis possess many qualities but they don't market it well. They remain quiet. But it should be spread," Bhagat said.

"But CM sir, you are doing well here, this is only one state and 27 are still left. We wish there could be many good leaders, but we don't have....IPL is IPL, and country's team is country's team. You think over it, rest of the things you will understand anyway," Bhagat said.

The ASSOCHAM president described Modi as a father figure and an icon. "Modiji is a true icon that people look forward to follow. He is a true icon for the India's youth," he said.

Both Dileep Modi and Bhagat were conferred with the first GCCI Youth Icon Awards.

Responding to the praise, the Gujarat chief minister said in a lighter vein that he did not know what would happen to Bhagat and Dileep Modi (now that they had praised him).