[Reader-list] Modi's image builders have dictators on client list

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Dear All,

Narendra Modi certainly could do with some image makeovers, and 
Buddhadeva Bhattachary could do with some too. In this case, Modi-ji is 
one up on Buddha Babu. He has hired a lobbying firm to make him look good.

I thought that I would post the news item that details this piece of 
information (which appeared on Times of India and was forwarded to me by 
a friend, so that those who have a line to Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan in 
Kolkata on this list may take the information where it is needed most). 
  Perhaps those on this list who are partisans of Modi-ji could act as 
consultants to those who root for Buddha-Babu, and they can compare 
notes on how each leader is faring under the loving attention of the 
right kind of PR.

And together, they can perfect the fine art of decorating and improving 
the public image of politicians whose hands are stained with blood.

regards

Shuddha

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Modis_image_builders_have_dictators_on_client_list/articleshow/2549293.cms

Modi's image builders have dictators on client list
18 Nov 2007, 0136 hrs IST,TNN

AHMEDABAD: Adolf Hitler was a brilliant propagandist. Narendra Modi too
believes in the power of image.

Which is probably why the chief minister hired a US lobbying firm which 
has serviced clients like former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and
President-for-life of Kazakhstan Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev.

This Washington-based firm, Apco Worldwide, was hired by Modi sometime 
in August this year, in the run-up to an important Assembly election, to
improve his image before the world community. Among its recent clients 
are Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Communist youth leader-turned-Russian
billionaire with mafia links.

The firm has a distinction of taking contracts of boosting images of 
leaders who fell out of favour of their followers.

On the face of it Apco Worldwide's brief is to build and sell Brand 
Gujarat to the international community. But according to sources Modi, 
who was denied visa by the US earlier because of the taint he earned in 
the 2002 riots, wants his image to be improved so that he gets to visit 
the US in future.

The Modi regime feels lobbying is required to attract much-sought after
foreign direct investment (FDI) which has been a cause for concern even
though Gujarat is topping the charts among Indian states in terms of 
overall investments, according to latest statistics brought out by the 
Reserve Bank of India.

Modi, of course, still nurtures the wish to get an US visa and some of 
his NRI friends have advised him to use the services of lobbyists for 
the same. Sources in the government told TOI that if it works and Modi 
comes back to power, Apco's contract will be renewed in January for 
Vibrant Gujarat 2009, the event that Modi prides himself in, for 
bringing investments to the state.

The Gujarat government will pay Apco 25,000 USD per month for the Modi 
image building exercise.

Sources in the government said Modi thought of this image-building 
exercise during his visit to Switzerland earlier this year. His 
government shortlisted some seven national and international firms, 
without floating tenders of which two were shortlisted. Even though it 
quoted a sum that was three times more than others, Apco was picked for 
the job.

The reason given was that Apco has a better team. Apco has former 
senators from Republican and Democratic parties working with it.