Modi meets bureaucrats, industrialists, film professionals in Hyderabad

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is going to address a rally here, had a closed-door meeting with prominent industrialists, retired bureaucrats, film professionals and politicians here this afternoon.      

Modi, who was recently appointed as the chief of poll campaign committee of BJP, spent over three hours in the interaction. He reportedly told those present in the meeting that he was here to get feedback, and not to talk about politics.

Former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah, retired Director General of Police C Gopinath Reddy, former chairman of VSNL T Hanuman Chowdary and noted cardiologist B Somaraju were among those who met the Gujarat strongman.      

Also a host of film professionals, such as Ramgopal Varma, Puri Jagannath, Krishnam Raju, Kota Srinivasa Rao, K Raghavendra Rao, M M Keeravani, Murali Mohan, Mohan Babu, Jagapati Babu, Manchu Lakshmi and Gautami, were present at the meeting held at the hotel where Modi has put up.      

BJP leaders Bangaru Laxman, Bandaru Dattatreya, V V Rama Rao, N Indrasena Reddy, AP BC Welfare Association president R Krishnaiah, Scheduled Castes (Madiga) association leader Manda Krishna Madiga and others also met him.      

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu and state president G Kishan Reddy introduced the guests to Modi.      

The BC Association leader submitted a memorandum seeking 50 per cent reservations for backward classes in legislative bodies. Political justice needs to be done to BCs and he will work for it, Modi was quoted as saying by Krishnaiah.      Madiga presented his case to the saffron leader for categorisation of SCs into sub-groups to ensure equitable justice. "Modi responded positively," Krishna said.      

Film director Puri Jagannath only said his was a "courtesy call".      

Earlier, Modi was accorded a grand welcome by the BJP leaders when he arrived at the Begumpet airport here.