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

[Pawan Durani]

both Budhadeb Ji & Modi ji are mass leaders and win elections democratically
. They may not be held responsible for they are not one in the mob.

Pawan


On 11/19/07, OISHIK SIRCAR <oishiksircar at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> What's unfair about it? The fact that their hands are stained with blood?
> Or that politicians' public images van never be decorated or improved?!
>
> On Nov 18, 2007 11:07 PM, Pawan Durani < pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>  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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>
>
>
> --
> OISHIK SIRCAR
>
> Fellow in Reproductive & Sexual Health and Women's Rights
> Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
>
> 60 Harbord Street
> Room 016 B
> Toronto, ON M5S 3L1
>
> oishiksircar at gmail.com
> oishik.sircar at utoronto.ca
>
> 416.876.7926