New Delhi:
Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi said India must recognize and reward "women power" but his nearly hour-long speech included jabs at the Congress and its vice-president
Rahul Gandhi, who gave a rare speech to industrialists last week in Delhi.
Mr Modi was addressing the women's wing of an industry lobby, FICCI. Mr Gandhi had spoken to the Confederation of Indian Industry.
(Watch: Rahul Gandhi addresses India Inc.)The two speeches are being compared and contrasted for the styles and reflections of the men who are widely expected to face off in the national elections, scheduled for next year.
Mr Modi spoke of the many ways in which India has let down its women. The statistics on female infanticide are "hair-raising", he said, acknowledging that Gujarat's own record is damaging. But he said that Gujarat is committed to encouraging women entrepreneurs.
(Read: Highlights of Narendra Modi's speech at FICCI)Mr Modi said he disagreed with the West's view that most women in India are housewives, but his anecdotes, meant to highlight the emotional and mental strength of women, placed them at the stove in kitchens, making
rotis for their husbands, and at the local market, smitten by sari sales. The neglected wife pretends to be burnt so her husband will show her some attention, but then later, the same wife, runs from the local sari sale to run into her house and rescue her child who is in danger of a fire, he said.
Like Mr Gandhi, who spoke of a carpenter named Girish to demonstrate the economic aspirations of young migrant workers, the Gujarat chief minister invoked "
Jasuben" (Sister Jasu) whose pizzas in Ahmedabad, he said, drew larger crowds to a small stall than Pizza Hut.
"Now the media will think
Jasuben is like
Kalawati, and search for her," he said, "so let me tell you she died five years ago."
That was a jab at Mr Gandhi, who in a rare speech to parliament in 2008, spoke of a widow named
Kalawati, whose family had been ravaged by debt. She later blamed Mr Gandhi for failing to assist her.
Like Mr Gandhi, Mr Modi accepted a couple of questions from the audience and shared lengthy responses.
(Watch: Modi answers questions at FICCI meet)He said that his three terms in power have been used to "fill the pot-holes" created by the Congress. "You can imagine how bumpy the road was," he said.