As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ is all set to reach 100 episodes on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party has planned to make it a big affair. The party leaders will listen to the prime minister's 100th radio talk with masses across the state.

Functions will be organised at public places, main city crossroads, party offices and even at chaupals where leaders will jointly listen to the programme. The place will be decked up with balloons and festoons. Sweets will also be distributed to the listeners after the show.  

The party will also use this occasion to increase its Muslim outreach as Mann ki Baat programme will be heard in around 1,000 madrasas across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak will attend the function at Madarsa Irfania in Lucknow.

This will be another attempt by the BJP to increase its influence among the Muslims as the party has already given tickets to 367 Muslim candidates in the upcoming urban local bodies elections.
Launched in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat, has become a popular platform for him to connect with people across the country to share his vision.

“Mann ki Baat has allowed Prime Minister Modi to speak directly to the countrymen without any intermediary, creating a sense of inclusivity and allowing people from all walks of life to share their views with the prime minister,”  BJP state vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.

“The prime minister has been sharing his thoughts on a range of topics, from governance and development to social issues and cultural events. He is also using the platform to highlight the achievements of his government and to address concerns and grievances that people may have,” Pathak added.

Mann ki Baat also caught the attention of foreign leaders, who have hailed it as a unique and innovative platform for connecting with the masses. US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised Modi for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the role of Maan ki Baat in connecting with the people.

Pathak said that one of the key benefits of Mann ki Baat was that it allowed the prime minister to focus on local issues.

“In the July 2019 edition of the programme, he spoke about the need to conserve water and called on citizens to take simple steps to reduce their water usage. He also highlighted the efforts of communities across the country who were working to conserve water, such as the residents of Bundelkhand, who have successfully revived several lakes in the region,” he said.