Friday, November 18 2005 17:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today (Nov 18, 2005) sidestepped questions whether he would be available for leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after its incumbent president L K Advani quits by the year-end.

He also avoided reply to a query by reporters at the Gujarat day celebrations at the ongoing India International Trade Fair (IITF) here whether the 'communal blot' in the wake of post-Godhra violence had now been wiped.

Similar was his response when asked whether he planned to advance assembly polls in the state in view of the spectacular show by the party in just-concluded Panchayat polls in the state despite party dissidents working against him. Modi, who was hailed as 'Hindu Hruday Samrat' after BJP's victory in the last assembly polls, also parried a question whether he would implement in Gujarat Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudarshan's reported suggestion that Hindus should have a minimum number of three children and more the merrier.

The Chief Minister had a dig at the Congress as also the Left saying Gujarat boasts of uninterrupted power supply unlike that in Kolkata, Chennai or Amethi and Rae Bareli.

He said his state had emerged as the number one state in the country in the performance of power sector and has been making rapid progress on energy and water front through innovative strategies.

Modi said Gujarat has also been named as the biggest employment provider in the country as also one that attracted the largest industrial investment.