In the backdrop of a big screen showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with ‘jawans’ on the borders, the BJP hosted ‘Deepawali Milan’ here on Thursday. The Prime Minister sought a consensus on holding simultaneous polls for lok Sabha and States Assembly polls.
It is for the third-time in a row that the BJP held a get together with media persons with Prime Minister freely mingling with them and holding brief exchanges. This time round, however, arrangements were made to prevent a free-for-all and a potential melee. Media persons were seated in two sections.
In his brief speech, Modi who was welcomed and felicitated by party president Amit Shah, thanked the media for backing many good initiatives of the Government, discussing issues and communicating them to the public. In this context, he said it was on account of media’s positive role that ‘Swach Bharat Mission’ has, for the first time, turned into a movement.
Modi said three States have become defecation-free and many more are in the line to do so. He said in a debate, praise and criticism both are welcomed.
The Prime Minister said there should be a discussion on holding simultaneous polls in the country to reduce expenses, energy, frequent transfers of officials and time. Election Commission as well as most of the political parties are in favour of it, the Prime Minister noted. He, however, regretted that though many a parties in private support the initiative, they hesitate to express it in public.
Welcoming the Prime Minister, Shah said under the leadership of Modi the country has progressed by leaps and bounds. He also pointed to the surgical strikes across the line of Control that boosted the morale of the armed forces and made country proud.
Besides the Prime Minister and Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jailtley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Health Minister JP Nadda and General Secretary Ram lal were also present on the dias. Party’s national secretary Shrikant Sharma initiated the proceedings for the evening.
The Prime Minister later walked down from the dias and interacted with scribes from the print and electronic media. The scribes then enjoyed the delicacies that the host had lined up as the evening progressed, celebrating ‘Deepawali’.