New Delhi: During a parliamentary party meeting of the BJP Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP MPs about to “focus on social work”. The “traditional way” of doing politics, he said, is changing. “So, do social work and politics will follow,” he added.
This was the first parliamentary meeting of the BJP in the ongoing second leg of the Budget session which commenced on 13 March.
The PM also said that the Opposition is “nervous” and “rattled” after the BJP’s performance in the Northeastern states. “They had a similar reaction after BJP’s victory in Gujarat. PM Modi said that the more we win, the harsher their attacks will be and that we should be ready for a strong fight,” a BJP MP, who was present at the meeting, told ThePrint.
Modi’s comments come at a time when the Congress-led Opposition is leading protests against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP from Lok Sabha after his conviction in a 2019 defamation case by a Surat court.
The budget session has witnessed repeated adjournments and protests — earlier over the Opposition demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue, and now over the disqualification of the Congress leader, alleging misuse of power and institution.
Addressing the BJP MPs, Modi said their main focus now should be on social work, which would ultimately translate into a “positive outlook” for the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He cited examples of the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” scheme that had seen great success in Gujarat during his tenure as chief minister. It had helped improve the state’s sex ratio and changed the perception of the party, he said.
The party MP at the meeting told ThePrint, “Modiji’s aim is to win people’s hearts and bring a positive change in constituencies, which can only happen through social work. Politics will follow,” he said.
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Action plan
Modi asked the MPs to focus on Samajik Nyay Saptah (social justice week) that the party has planned, starting 6 April — the BJP’s foundation day. Between 15 May and 15 June, BJP MPs have been asked to reach out to the masses and disseminate information about the Union government’s accomplishments and the work done by them in the past nine years.
Referring to the successful cultural programmes organised by Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth in his constituency, Prime Minister Modi suggested that other MPs follow his example and use innovative methods to positively impact people’s lives.
Seth has organised a three-day ‘Sansad Cultural Competition’ starting 5 May, which will see various folk dance, music and literary competitions. Seth, who received the PM’s appreciation for his initiative, told ThePrint: “Through this, we will be able to provide a stage to local artists. The festival’s aim is to protect cultural diversity and connect people.”
Modi also encouraged MPs to launch campaigns aimed at preserving the environment and soil and promoting benefits of organic farming.
“The prime minister said that the traditional methods of doing politics are now passé, so we must now use different methods to do politics, diversify our area of work, organise activities to connect with the common people, and organise cultural exchange and sports programmes to bring a positive perception among the people towards the government,” said the BJP MP.
Party MPs were also asked by the PM to use technology proactively for “better connectivity” and advised those unfamiliar with technology to get the help of experts. The MPs have also been asked to submit an “action plan” to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on how they will be disseminating information in their constituencies starting 15 May.
The BJP OBC Morcha has already announced programmes to reach out to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community through their ‘Gaon Gaon Chalo, Ghar Ghar Chalo’ (visit every village, every home) programme which aims to reach 1 crore households in 1 lakh villages to popularise the welfare programmes of the past nine years aimed at community. The OBC Morcha’s campaign also begins on 6 April and will look to present Rahul Gandhi’s comment on the Modi community as an example of the Congress being anti-OBC.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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