 "Modi to charm Ficci women's wing")
After pitching himself on the national politics, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has got an opportunity to send a message to 50% of India's electorate as he delivers an inaugural address to women's division of Ficci on coming Monday.
Modi will address the annual general meeting of Ficci Ladies Organisation (FLO), the chamber said in a statement here.
The Gujarat chief minister will deliver the speech at the session, titled,"Unleash the Entrepreneur Within: Exploring New Avenues."
However, when contacted FLO executive director Manju Prakash Kalra denied that there are any political reasons for inviting Modi.
She said the Gujarat chief minister has done a lot for women entrepreneurs in Gujarat. These women contribute Rs 1,700 crore to India's GDP through small and medium enterprises, Kalra said, doling out oft-repeated statistics.
But why Modi, and why not any women entrepreneur or politician to give inaugural address to FLO? To a query on this, she said earlier UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had also come to FLO functions. In fact, a day after AGM, senior Congress leader Margaret Alwa will address the AGM of young women wing of Ficci—young FLO on April ten, she said.
Modi's address to an industry organization is the first after he returned to power in Gujarat, said the Ficci statement.
The AGM will see change of guard (President) at FLO from Kavita Varadaraj to Malvika Rai. "The 21st century is the century for change... This change is synonymous with the shifting role of women in the society and economy around the globe," Varadraj said without touching the issue of Modi.
Modi had earlier hogged the headlines when he spoke at the Shri Ram College of Commerce here, clearly indicating his desire to become a leading player in the national political scene. Officially, he never exhibited his political aim at the national scene and the speech at the premier college in the University of Delhi did not even touch the subject.
The Ficci statement said Modi will share his acumen with women entrepreneurs to enable them unleash their entrepreneurial spirits.
Earlier in March, the Wharton India Economic Forum had revoked its decision to invite Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to deliver a key note address after three Indian-American professors from the University of Pennsylvania sent a petition signed by about 135 people furious against such a move.
Later, a group of US Congressmen from the Republican Party and American businessmen went to meet Modi and supported his economic development model. British and other European ambassadors to India have already reached out to Modi.
Modi will address the annual general meeting of Ficci Ladies Organisation (FLO), the chamber said in a statement here.
The Gujarat chief minister will deliver the speech at the session, titled,"Unleash the Entrepreneur Within: Exploring New Avenues."
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It might be a co-incidence that Modi will deliver the inaugural address just days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed AGM of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), but analysts see political significance of the development. Gandhi presented the CII Woman Exemplary Awards.
However, when contacted FLO executive director Manju Prakash Kalra denied that there are any political reasons for inviting Modi.
She said the Gujarat chief minister has done a lot for women entrepreneurs in Gujarat. These women contribute Rs 1,700 crore to India's GDP through small and medium enterprises, Kalra said, doling out oft-repeated statistics.
But why Modi, and why not any women entrepreneur or politician to give inaugural address to FLO? To a query on this, she said earlier UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had also come to FLO functions. In fact, a day after AGM, senior Congress leader Margaret Alwa will address the AGM of young women wing of Ficci—young FLO on April ten, she said.
Modi's address to an industry organization is the first after he returned to power in Gujarat, said the Ficci statement.
The AGM will see change of guard (President) at FLO from Kavita Varadaraj to Malvika Rai. "The 21st century is the century for change... This change is synonymous with the shifting role of women in the society and economy around the globe," Varadraj said without touching the issue of Modi.
Modi had earlier hogged the headlines when he spoke at the Shri Ram College of Commerce here, clearly indicating his desire to become a leading player in the national political scene. Officially, he never exhibited his political aim at the national scene and the speech at the premier college in the University of Delhi did not even touch the subject.
The Ficci statement said Modi will share his acumen with women entrepreneurs to enable them unleash their entrepreneurial spirits.
Earlier in March, the Wharton India Economic Forum had revoked its decision to invite Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to deliver a key note address after three Indian-American professors from the University of Pennsylvania sent a petition signed by about 135 people furious against such a move.
Later, a group of US Congressmen from the Republican Party and American businessmen went to meet Modi and supported his economic development model. British and other European ambassadors to India have already reached out to Modi.