Former vice-president Naidu and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda launched Chouhan’s book ‘Apnapan: My Experiences With Narendra Modi’.
Also Read: Fertilisers not easily available in international market, pushes for organic farming: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Naidu praised Chouhan as a “son of the soil” and a grassroots leader who remained “spotless” during his 17-year tenure as Madhya Pradesh chief minister. He said Modi’s decision to appoint Chouhan as agriculture minister reflected the prime minister’s “vision and passion for the nation”.
Naidu recalled Chouhan’s long political association with Modi from their BJP youth wing days and said the Madhya Pradesh leader emerged as one of India’s most popular chief ministers despite initial doubts within the party.
Stressing on the importance of agriculture, he said leaders like Gowda, Chouhan and himself were all “sons of farmers” and asserted that farming should be treated as a mission, not merely a profession.
Also Read: ICAR Pune grape institute Director served notice as Shivraj Singh Chouhan cracks down on lapsesPraising Modi’s governance style, Naidu credited him with transforming the Padma awards into a platform to “recognise the unrecognised” and highlighted initiatives such as Mann Ki Baat for directly connecting with people. He also criticised “freebie politics”, saying parties often make unsustainable promises without considering states’ financial health.
Deve Gowda too praised Modi’s leadership, calling him “the only leader who can take this country forward with the confidence of the people”. He said both Modi and Chouhan rose from the grassroots and worked extensively for farmers, rural communities and the unemployed youth.
Recalling an anecdote from a BJP election strategy meeting in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said Modi had once asked party workers who among them had an email ID at a time when very few leaders used technology. He said the late BJP leader Babulal Gaur had jokingly asked Modi, “What is this female-email you are talking about,” triggering laughter among workers.
