Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked BJP members to reach out to every section of society, including minorities such as “Bohras”, “Pasmandas” and Sikhs, without electoral considerations asserting that  the party is “no longer  merely a political movement” but a “social movement as well” working to transform “socio-economic conditions” in the country.

In his closing address to the two-day National Executive meet here at the NDMC centre, the Prime Minister said that India’s best era is coming and “We should dedicate ourselves to its development”.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that Modi, in his address to the BJP National Executive meet, emphasised on reaching out to all sections of society.

“The BJP is no longer merely a political movement but a social movement as well that is working to transform socio-economic conditions,” Modi told the BJP delegates who, among others, included the top BJP leaders, including Central Cabinet ministers, BJP-ruled-States Chief Ministers  and State unit presidents.

Reminding BJP delegates that around 400 days are left for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Modi asked them to serve every section of society with full dedication.

The Prime Minister is understood to have spoken highly of “sufism” and also asked the BJP leaders to meet professionals from different walks of life and visit places like universities and churches to connect with them.

The Prime Minister said India’s best era is coming and the party should dedicate itself to the country’s development and turn “amrit kaal”, the 25-year period till 2047, into “kartavya kaal” (era of duties).

He also cautioned the party against any sense of “overconfidence” and cited an example of the BJP’s loss in Madhya Pradesh in 1998 despite the unpopularity of then Congress Government led by Digvijaya Singh. Modi was then a key minder of the BJP’s organisational affairs in the state.

Fadnavis said the Prime Minister emphasised on reaching out to each and every segment of the society of all communities.

The PM said people in the 18-25 age group have not witnessed the political history of India and are not aware of “corruption and wrongdoings” that took place under previous governments.

“So, they need to be made aware. Let them know about the good governance of the BJP,” he said in an apparent swipe at the previous dispensations at the Centre.

Fadnavis said Modi also advised the party to conduct special programmes of its different “morchas”, especially in border villages so that it can connect with people there more and ensure that the Government’s developmental schemes reach them.

 “The Prime Minister’s speech was inspirational. It guided us as well as showed us a new roadmap. He asked us to dedicate every moment of our life to advance the country’s development. Only by converting the ‘amrit kaal’ into ‘kartavya kaal’, can the country be taken forward,” the Maharashtra leader said.

While asking the party to make deeper contacts, Modi sought party leaders to approach all sections, including the Muslim minorities, particularly the marginalised ones like “Bohras” and “Pasmandas”.

On the last day, the National-Executive also passed a socio-economic resolution praising Modi’s leadership for transforming India into the fifth largest economy from a ‘Fragile Five’ economy.

The resolution underlined that now the country is moving towards politics and governance of saturation, suggesting that the government’s programmes are fulfilling the requirements of the people.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the resolution was proposed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP’s national executive also expressed its gratitude towards Prime Minister Modi for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said.

The resolution was seconded by Union Minister V Muraleedharan and BJP MP from Haryana Sunita Duggal.

“The opposition used to ridicule the BJP asking the date for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Now, the temple is under construction and its date has also been announced,” Pradhan said.

In the last eight and half years, the government has made the Indian economy and society more inclusive and self dependent, the BJP leader said as he underlined that “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” is not merely a slogan but philosophy for his party.

“When we came to power, India was in the ‘Fragile Five’ and now, when we are completing 75 years of independence... (it) became the fifth largest economy, leaving behind the United Kingdom,” he said.

Pradhan said the resolution talked about welfare measures such as free ration to the poor, housing for all and free of cost vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that under the Modi Government, India’s contribution to the world GDP rose to 3.5 per cent from 2.6 per cent.

The resolution also hailed the Modi Government for developing a digital transaction ecosystem and stated that 40 per cent of global digital transactions are happening in India, according to Pradhan.