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

[Pawan Durani]

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

Thatz an unfair statement.


On 11/19/07, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>
> 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
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> 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.
>
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