GANDHINAGAR: In an attempt to bolster his image as a pan-India leader, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi plans to hold a series of national and international level events in the months to come.

These events, the cost for which will be borne by the state exchequer, will be attended by foreign dignitaries and leaders from various fields across the country. A start was made on June 11 when a national seminar on livestock and dairy industry was held at Gandhinagar in which around 5,000 farmers from 20 states participated.

In the political domain, Modi plans to address 100 public meetings in the next four months across the country as the BJP ’s poll campaign committee head for the 2014 parliamentary polls .

“In July there will be a major event on Panchayati Raj and rural development in which thousands of Panchayat office bearers from across the country will participate. On July 26-27 an international workshop has been organized by Gujarat Ecology Commission on conservation of coastal areas and mangroves. An Indian Printing Expo will be held from August 29 to 31,” said an official of the industry department.

He said the biggest event after the Panchayati Raj conclave will be Agritech Asia to be held from September 7 to 11 in which farmers and experts will come from India as well as abroad. That apart, there are functions on pharmaceutical and biotech industry, water management technologies, Indian gems and jewellery industry, Indian chemical and mining industry etc scheduled to be held in October.

A mega event is being planned on October 31 which happens to be the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Modi plans to send BJP workers to seven lakh villages to collect pieces of iron from farm implements to be used for building the tallest statue of Sardar Patel which has been named the Statue of Unity. “All the government departments have been instructed to chalk out plans for organizing the major events in which people from different walks of life can be invited from outside to Gujarat,’’ said an official.

Sources said a strong media management and publicity plan are also under preparation so that Modi’s views can be circulated at the national level.