Giving a pep talk to party leaders, BJP national president Amit Shah said that the resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh should make party workers humble because they are answerable to the people who voted for the party to bring about a ‘change’ in the State which was once called ‘Bimaru’ (sick).
“The victory should not make party workers and leaders arrogant. Instead, it should make us humble. We are not here to form Government but we are here to bring about a change. This change is a continuous process. Therefore we should not rest after every victory. The victory should motivate us to reach out to more people,” Shah said while addressing workers on the concluding session of State Executive Meeting of the BJP at Scientific Convention Centre of KGMU on Tuesday.
This soft but stern message was for belligerent party workers and law makers, who went berserk after the BJP came to power around a month and a half back. At several places, irate BJP workers, leaders and their kin beat up policemen and threatened officials with dire consequences if they failed to toe their lines.
“The working of party workers should be transparent and aimed at bringing permanency. In UP, the BJP and its allies have 325 seats in the Assembly. It has 73 MPs and majority of municipalities/ corporations are with the party. This should not make workers complacent. We should reach out those areas where the BJP had lost and meet people at the village level. This will help in bringing permanency. If we can do it, no one can defeat the party in near future,” Shah stressed.
Realising that majority of the party workers present at the venue were young, Shah recounted BJP’s journey from 1950. He narrated how leaders used to rejoice after saving their deposits in elections and they used to treat it as a victory in th battle of ballots.
“Time has changed now. Much water has flown down the river Ganga since 1950. Now the BJP has 1387 legislators across India and 282 MPs in lok Sabha. Besides, the party has 44 members in Rajya Sabha. In 14 states, thee BJP has its own Government while in three others, it is in Government with its allies. The BJP governs 70 per cent of India’s population and 60 per cent of land area. When I look at the political map of India I feel proud of my workers,” the BJP president said.
Shah also spoke about achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government saying that in the last three years, he had fulfilled promises made during his first speech. “In that speech Modi spoke about farmers, youth, unemployment and women. Silently, he has implemented Ujjwala Yojana where Government gave free lPG connections to 5 crore BPl families. The Government has built 7 crore toilets in villages and gave employment to as many people through Mudra Yojana,” he said.
“There are many schemes which the previous Government did not implement. One of them was Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. For reasons best known to the previous CM, the project was not introduced to UP,” Shah said.
“The Yogi Government will now extend the benefits of central schemes to the masses. If we can do that face of UP will change in no time,” he said.
The BJP top gun also complimented Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for bringing about sea change in work culture in UP. He appreciated anti-Romoe campaign and the UP Government policy initiated to free Government land from squatters.
“The BJP workers should ensure that every word of Sankalp Patra was implemented in letter and spirit as it is the voice of the people. The party has taken suggestions from over 49 lakh people in framing the Sankalp Patra. This is like Gita for every worker and they should educate people about Government plans,” Shah said.
Declaring the party’s future strategy, Shah said that under Deen Dayal Upadhaya Centenary celebrations, 16,000 workers should spread out and spend three days in five booths.
“Pick up those areas where the BJP has not done well in the last elections. Motivate the people of that village to become party member. If we can do it, victory will be ours as it would make our organisation strong automatically and our roots will go deep,” he said.
Earlier, Shah was given a warm welcome at the Amausi airport. This being his first visit to lucknow after the Yogi Government took charge, almost the entire cabinet went to the airport to receive Shah.