Thoughts of Narendra Modi: as gleaned from his speech at India Today conclave

New Delhi: Following are a few gems from Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's speech at the India Today conclave on Saturday , where he spoke about privatization of Railways and on sundry other issues : --"If private vehicles can move on public roads, if private airlines can fly out of government-made runways, why can't private trains run on government's rail tracks? Government can own the tracks, but why must it control what moves on top?"--"India doesn't need acts, it needs action. rights are already enshrined in the Constitution. Having new Acts isn't the solution. It is only when the government fails to take action, that it comes up with an Act." (was it on anti-rape bill?)--"I had made certain suggestions for the development of cities to the PM. He nodded in agreement. Then I was asked to make the same suggestions to Sam Pitroda. I was delighted since he is my Gujarati bhai. I made the same suggestions. It has been three years since then, but nothing has been done."--"India has two big strengths in its competition against China. Demographic dividend and democratic dividend are the factors that will ensure this is the century of India and not China."--"As a philosophy, I believe government has no business doing business. I believe the state should focus on activities like building hospitals rather than getting involved in business.'--"Why can't the National Rural Employment guarantee Act be named National Development Guarantee Act? The first name tells the beneficiary that he is dying of hunger and the government has decided to give him hundred days of work. But if we adopt the second name, we would be telling the person that he is doing hundred days of work to build the country. It would instil a sense of pride in him instead of helplessness."--"Put businesses in the hands of women and India will achieve the 9 per cent growth target."--"My secularism mantra is: every citizen needs protection, not just minorities. This is secularism."--(on Gujarat riots) "The Supreme Court has answered. The people of India have answered. I have answered this question many times. You can check your records, or search for it online".