Affirming that India is following an “independent line” without coming under any pressure in a “fast-changing global polity”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked the BJP cadre to work with “increasing responsibility” to fulfil the India dream of “atmnirbharta” (self-reliance).
He pointed out that the recent return of “double-engine” Governments of the BJP in four States showed the rejection of “parivarvad network” (dynasty politics) across the country.
Stressing the slogan of “desh badal raha hai”, Modi also drew the attention of the party workers and leaders to the fact that after three decades the BJP is the only party that has crossed the mark of 100 seats in the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing the BJP workers virtually here on the party’s 42nd foundation day — it was founded on April 6, 1980 — the Prime Minister said his Government has a definitive policy (niti) and decision making and determination too (nishchay) globally and domestically.
“India without any pressure is leading an independent line globally when world is divided in two groups,” Modi said, adding that his Government is pursuing “national interest” and also pursuing “manavtavad”. India is globally being seen as a country which speaks firmly about humanity, he said.
Modi’s speech was listened to by BJP leaders in the party headquarters here and across all States by BJP functionaries who were sporting caps bearing BJP symbol and party name inscribed on it.
Modi was also seen wearing the cap as were Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and party MP and former actress Hema Malini.
The PM said the responsibility of the a BJP is increasing towards realising the Indian dream of “self-reliance” making “local-global” and ensuring “social justice and harmony”.
Pointing to the BJP’s return to power in four States — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur — the Prime Minister again berated “parivarvad” which, he said, was the “biggest enemy of democracy” that shut door for youth and went against “Constitutional norms” and that “people well understand it now”. He also said dynasties across the States protect each other’s “corruption and misdeeds” as against the interests of poor.
He said members of some families dominate from local bodies to Parliament and added that only the BJP has challenged them and made it an electoral issue and that it is a matter of pride for the party .
Asserting that the BJP stood for “rashtra bhakti” and its rivals for “parivar bhakti”, the PM said people are gradually coming to this realisation and the return of BJP’s “double-engine governments” in the Assembly elections was a reflection of this fact.
Modi said BJP Governments have run welfare schemes “without any discrimination” and worked to take them to every beneficiary while previous dispensations were driven by vote bank politics. He said the Government machinery now works to reach every intended beneficiary as part of its resolve for saturation coverage of welfare programmes.
For the BJP, he said “rajniti” (politics) and “rashtra niti’ (policies for country’s welfare) cannot be separate.
The PM specifically mentioned the support that the BJP received from women in the country. He said women were in forefront in backing the party as his Government has tried to “lessen their burden” by providing electricity, ration, gas and other basic necessities.