Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has expressed happiness about featuring on the cover of the latest issue of Time magazine that will hit the stands very soon.
"I am glad that I feature on Time magazine," Modi told rediff.com on the phone.
"Only seven Indian politicians have appeared on the cover of one of the most prestigious magazines of the world. They are Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Lal Bahadhur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Four of them held the top job of prime minister of India. But this is the first time that a non-descript backward caste politician has been given prominent coverage by Time," said a delighted Modi.
Reportage: Onkar Singh
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Happy to feature on Time cover: Narendra Modi
Sources claim that the Time cover has given rivals of the Gujarat CM in the Bharatiya Janata Party sleepless nights, as they are apprehensive that this will further boost Modi's stature as an emerging national leader.
Most political leaders deny knowing anything about the Time feature. "I am not aware of the Time issue on Modi," said a BJP member of Rajya Sabha.
But BJP leader Tarun Vijay said, "This is a matter of great satisfaction both for Modi as well as the party.".
"It is my job to provide clean administration to the people of Gujarat. My sadbhavna fasts were helpful in bridging the gap between Hindus and Muslims," Modi told rediff.com.
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