Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, urged BJP cadres to dedicate the next 100 days to reaching out to new voters and securing their confidence as the party aims to win 400 seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“Today is February 18, and the youth who have reached the age of 18 in this era will vote in the country’s 18th Lok Sabha election. In the next 100 days, you need to connect with every new voter, reach every beneficiary, every section, every community, and every person who believes in every religion. We need to gain the trust of everyone,” Modi said, addressing the second day of the party’s national convention at Bharat Mandampam, Pragati Maidan.
In his 65-minute speech, Modi emphasised that he is not seeking a third term to enjoy power but to work for the nation. “If I had thought of my home, it would not have been possible to build homes for crores of people,” he said.
He highlighted the achievements of the past 10 years, including unblemished governance and lifting 25 crore people out of poverty, as significant feats.
“Now the country’s dream and resolve will be bigger. Our dream and resolution are that we have to make Viksit Bharat, and the next 5 years will play an important role in it. In the next 5 years, we have to take a giant leap towards Viksit Bharat,” he said.
Modi said the nation must now dream big and make significant resolutions to make India a developed country by 2047. “The first imperative is to ensure the return of the BJP to power in strong numbers,” said the Prime Minister, adding that the dreams of crores of women, poor, and youths are his dreams.
“We rid the country of mega scams and terror attacks, and made efforts to improve living standards of the poor and the middle class,” the Prime Minister said.
“A senior leader once told me I had done enough as PM and CM, I should rest. But I am working for ‘rashtraniti’, not ‘rajneeti’,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he lives by the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and takes inspiration from him. “I am not someone who lives for his own happiness. I am advocating for a third term for the BJP not for political gains, but for the benefit of India. My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments,” Modi said.
Modi said he is already getting invitations from foreign countries for July, August and September visits, weeks before the general elections. He said the invitations show the world knows that the BJP will form a government at the Centre for the third time.
He said he is the first Prime Minister to raise the issue of toilets and speaks about dignity for women from the Red Fort.
The BJP is bringing together the power of youths, women, farmers and the youth in building a “Viksit Bharat”, Modi said. “We asked those who were not acknowledged by anyone, and not just that, we have also worshipped them,” he said.
In the times to come, there will be plenty of opportunities for “our mothers, sisters and daughters”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister discussed several initiatives aimed at women empowerment, including programmes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Lakhpati Didis, Self Help Groups, maternity leave policies and Mudra loans to name a few.
Modi underscored how the last 10 years have been marked by bold decisions and groundbreaking resolutions.
He said, “Issues that lingered for centuries... we showed the courage to resolve them. By constructing the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, we put an end to a wait of 5 centuries. In Pavagadh, Gujarat, the Dharma Dhwaja has been unfurled after 500 years. After 7 decades, we opened the Kartarpur Corridor. After a wait of 7 decades, the nation was freed from Article 370.”
Furthermore, he said, “Approximately 6 decades later, the new form of Rajpath, the Kartavya Path emerged. Finally, after 4 decades, the demand for One Rank One Pension was fulfilled. After 3 decades, the country got a new National Education Policy. The need for a new Parliament building, felt for decades, was finally fulfilled by us. Every BJP karyakarta is fortunate to be a part of such numerous accomplishments.”
Stressing on how a youth-driven India is setting ambitious goals for itself and achieving them today, Modi said, “We are working to host the Youth Olympics in India in 2029 and the Olympic Games in 2036. By 2030, we are working towards the target of Net Zero for our railways. Instead of 2030, we will achieve the goal of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol five years ahead of our target date. India is also formulating policies to achieve the Net Zero target by 2070. This means that in the coming years, our country will witness countless green job opportunities.”
Highlighting the Congress’s track record of being a source of instability, dynasty politics, corruption, and appeasement, Modi said the Congress lacks a development agenda and a roadmap for the future, and its current actions show a divisive approach based on language or region.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress for not fighting on ideological issues, he said, “The Congress is so demoralised that it has lost the courage for ideological and intellectual Opposition. Therefore, resorting to insults, false accusations against Modi has become their sole agenda.”
“...Today, the Opposition leaders are also raising slogans of ‘NDA sarkar 400 paar’. To take NDA to 400, BJP will have to cross the mark of 370 (seats),” he said.
Modi slammed the Opposition, particularly the Congress, saying it lacked the courage to take on the BJP ideologically or on the basis of principles.
During his address, he turned emotional and paid his tributes to Jain seer Muni Vidyasagar who breathed his last on Sunday. He said, “Today, I want to pay tribute to Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj. After getting information about his death, everyone is deeply saddened. For me, this is a personal loss. I got to meet him and take guidance from him a lot of times. The last time I visited him, I was not aware that I would not be able to have his darshan ever again...”
