Party outlines PM’s vision for New India by 2022, leaders pass six-point resolution at national executive meet in New Delhi.
For the first time, the BJP has given concrete shape to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-hyped ‘New India’ mantra. At the party’s national executive meet in New Delhi Monday, the vision was circulated to its top leadership at the Centre and in the states, and got the assent from 2,000-odd leaders present.
The BJP envisions a ‘New India’ by 2022, propped up by six pillars. India, it states, should be:
– Corruption-free
– Clean
– Terrorism-free
– Communalism-free
– Casteism-free
– Poverty-free
The most notable point, obviously, is number four – its pledge to make the country communalism-free.
“In building New India, we pledge for communal harmony in the society,” states the resolution passed at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium.
The pledge is significant, given it comes at a time when there have been instances of religious violence, like lynchings over cow slaughter, witnessed across states.
Other pledges
In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort this year, Prime Minister Modi had set the goal of building a New India by 2022, when the country completes 75 years of independence.
At the national executive meet, the PM took on corruption strongly, stating it would not be tolerated, and those involved would not be spared.
“I have no relative,” the PM reportedly said, making it clear there would be zero tolerance even for his party colleagues.
Earlier in the day, all present at the meet were made to stand and take a pledge of ‘suchita’ (purity) in every aspect of working and life.
Regarding the ‘poverty-free’ target, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said: “The idea of New India involves everyone having a house, healthcare facilities, and opportunities for self-employment. The central government has started implementing many schemes to realise the objective of ‘antyodaya’ (uplifting the weakest section of society).”
Stating that New India cannot come into being without being terror-free, the resolution called it the biggest threat for the entire world, and said the Centre was dealing with it strictly at all levels.
On the evil of casteism, the BJP resolved to tread the path of social justice, with the PM pledging to eradicate disparity. “Equality in society will act as catalyst in building a better and strong nation by 2022,” the resolution stated.
On the dream of a ‘Clean India’, to which the government has dedicated a lot of funds and attention, Gadkari said movements like Swachh Bharat would only be successful with people’s participation, and by making it the moral responsibility of each individual.
Here are the pages from the BJP resolution on the pledge:
