In an attempt to stem controversies around important issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked party’s MPs and MlAs to not to speak out of turn and make ill-informed statements before the media.
Interacting with party lawmakers and legislators through the Narendra Modi App, the Prime Minister maintained the BJP was an inclusive party have the maximum number of MPs from OBC, Dalit and tribal communities.
He said the party has managed to win over support of the rural masses as he also made a reference to the party’s win in local polls in Jharkhand.
The Prime Minister asked party legislators to avoid tendency to jump to an analysis before television cameras and later blame media for controversies.
“Sometime, our workers say media does this..media does that, but have we ever thought that we only make some mistakes and give ‘masala’ to mediapersons as if we are intellectual. We rush to do an analysis of any big topic as soon we see camerapersons. It is not media’s fault, we have to control ourselves. Only those who have a responsibility to speak, should speak to media. If everyone starts speaking, then the issue gets diverted and it affects the country, the party and our individual image,” said Modi. “The moment we see a camera, we jump to make a statement as if we are great social scientists or experts... and then these ill-informed statements are used by media. It is not the media’s fault,” he said.
Modi urged the party leaders to utilise the full potential of social media to connect with the people.
The PM asserted on the need to focus on skill development and highlighted the benefit of Mudra Yojna in providing financial assistance to create an inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial culture in the country.
The Prime Minister also held discussions with MPs and MlAs of various issues such as skill development, issues related to the development of rural areas and the welfare of farmers.
The Prime Minister also said that when the Government was formed, 8-10 MPs had the habit of speaking, but after speaking to them, in last three years, they have not made any such remarks.
“We should not blame the media, media is doing its work. It is our responsibility that we should not get into every issue. Those who have responsibility will speak,” said Modi.
As Prime Minister sought party MPs and legislatures to not to court controversies which diverted focus of the Government and the party, Union Minister Santosh Gangwar caught media attention when he said rampant incident in the country are unfortunate, but sometimes they cannot be prevented in a big country.
“In a big country like ours, if one or two incidents take place, brouhaha should not be created over it. This is not fair... Government is taking effective steps...Whatever is necessary will be done,” he said on Saturday at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
National Crime Records Bureau in its report recently stated that there was 400 per cent rise in child rape cases in Uttar Pradesh.
Gangwar, who is BJP MP from Bareilly, holds protfolio of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for labour and Employment. Recently, there were other controversial remarks by BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka which caught media attention.
In his interaction Modi also asked MPs and MlAs to take a resolve to solve four to five problems of the villages falling in their respective constituencies as he issued them several instructions to observe the ongoing ‘Gram Swaraj’ campaign between April 14 and May 5.