The Hindu Business Line : Modi, Naik skip CII Petrominex meet

The State's first international mining and petroleum exhibition became the latest venue for the stand off, as both Mr Modi and Mr Ram Naik, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), failed to turn up at the inaugural function as both were `indisposed'.

CII was the organiser of the Petrominex, which was supported by the Government of Gujarat. Mr Modi was to be the chief guest at the inauguration of the two-day exhibition-cum-conference which was getting showcased by the State Government as its coming of age at the international level in the two sectors. Mr Naik was to be the guest of honour.

It is understood that Mr Naik's office sent a missive well in advance to the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) that he was to attend another function of Friday, stating that his tour programme stood cancelled.

Another notable absentee at the function was Mr Ramesh Bais, Minister of State for Mines.

While both the State and CII officials were quick to rule out any friction amongst them, many delegates chose to disagree.

They were convinced that it was a fall-out of the earlier exchange of words Mr Modi had in Delhi where he crossed swords with Mr Rahul Bajaj and Mr Jamshyd Godrej at the CII session on business opportunities in Gujarat earlier this month.

"There are no two ways about it. This is clearly a snub by the State and Central Governments to the CII. The first instance that things were not hunky dory between the two was the scene created at the CII meeting in Mumbai while Mr Modi was addressing the gathering. Earlier too, while most of the industry chose to keep quiet about the riots, Ms Anu Agha representing the CII, blasted the way riots were handled by the Gujarat Government," said a delegate on condition of anonymity.

There had been a frosting of relations at the State level too in recent times as otherwise CII had played the unofficial host in many such meets organised by the State Government.

The game of one-upmanship between the CII and the State Government in this instance reached such a level that the two entities planned separate press conferences to announce the meet.

It was only at the last moment that the CII cancelled its press briefing citing the one being organised by the State Government as the official reason.

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Modi, Naik skip CII Petrominex meet