In a first-of-its-kind campaign in the history of general elections, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi kicked off a unique ‘Discussion over Tea’ (Chai Pe Charcha) on Wednesday, in which he talked about issues ranging from black money, taxation, terrorism, revenue record, tackling short fall of energy, skill development, Indian Railways and even criticised arch rival Congress party for bad-governance.
The barb ‘Chaiwala’ on Modi came as boomerang for the Congress party as it was converted into a major campaign point for the Gujarat Chief Minister, who actually set at a tea-cum-snacks stall ‘Iskon Gandhia’ situated on Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar highway. Not only that, he in fact connected with nearly 1,000 tea-stalls across 300 cities in the country using technology. Modi answered questions raised from cities like Vadodara, Banglore, Pune, Delhi (Gurgaon, Noida), Pune, Cuttack, Nasik, lucknow, Udaypur, Ajmer and Patna and many other cities.
While initiating discussion based on ‘Good Governance’ theme, Modi said that he would like to reach to at least 2 crore people through ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ programme in coming days. The organisers Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), established by 100 like-minded young professionals announced to host another ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ on ‘Women Empowerment’ theme.
In an answer pertaining to black money lying in foreign banks, Modi said that if his Government would come into power, the priority will be bringing back ‘stolen money’ for the development of the country. “We would utilise 10 per cent of black money for the benefit of fix salaried people and honest tax-payers,” he said.
Modi struck a chord by remembering historic icons like Chanakya for taxation, Todarmal for revenue record and Shershah Suri for infrastructure development saying that their principles were universal but we need to make suitable in context of contemporary situations.
Criticising the Congress for bad-governance while answering questions on election promises, he said that the Congress promised to give free electricity to farmers in the Assembly elections in Gujarat. “Unlike Gujarat, in many Congress-ruled State, the Congress failed to provide electricity. So there is no question of giving electricity. The peasants want electricity and they are ready to pay for it,” he said.
He asserted that bad governance was like diabetes which would bring all kinds of other diseases. Talking about clean energy, he said Gujarat was the first State to announce Solar Energy Policy, even before the Union Government. He also emphasised on skill-development to empower youth and also talked about balance development of the country citing example of difference in development between the Western Indian States and the States in the eastern part of the country.
Sources in CAG said that Modi connected simultaneously in 300 cities through DTH, satellite and social media that include 300 lok Sabha constituencies. The ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ campaign will have at least 12 editions in coming days and Modi would remain present at different tea stalls in various states in future. Modi not only answered questions from various cities, he was also receptive on suggestions mooted by the people.