He could have been referring to the fact that Jamsetji Tata had donated Rs 1,000 here to establish the cattle farm when the state suffered a severe drought about 100 years ago.

"Many countries in the world had come forward and welcomed Tata to set up the Nano project. It would have been really unfortunate if Nano had gone out of India," Modi said after the relocation was made public.

Now that the Nano project has come to Sanand, the chief minister is now looking at making Gujarat the automobile hub of the country.

A host of Japanese automobile and ancillary companies are already considering substantial investments in the state.

Image: Narendra Modi addresses a press conference in Gandhinagar. | Photograph: Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images