NaMo will interact with NRIs in Nigeria, Italy at 1,000 centres during the first phase of BJP’s outreach programme
The BJP’s public outreach programme in support of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is swiftly catching up with scores of Indians staying abroad. The BJP has launched a sustained campaign in 35 countries across the globe, targeting various professional groups to support the BJP in achieving its Mission 272+.
As part of the campaign, Modi will hold a ‘chai pe charcha’ with the Indian community in Nigeria and Verona in Italy on Sunday. Modi will interact with these NRIs at over a thousand centres in both the countries.
According to BJP leaders, the two countries have a sizable population of people from India and sustained campaigns are held there to support Modi. ‘Chai pe charcha’ with these two countries will be organised by the overseas affairs cell of the BJP.
“On Sunday, Modi will interact with the Indian community living in Nigeria and Italy. The BJP has been successful in connecting with a large number of professionals in these countries and Modi will share with them his vision for development of the country as-well-as his views on foreign policies,” said Vijay Jolly, convener of the BJP’s overseas affairs cell.
Modi’s ‘chai pe charcha’ had begun on February 12 wherein the Gujarat Chief Minister interacted with people at nearly 1,000 tea stalls in 300 Indian cities. Modi’s next interaction is scheduled on March 8, where he will discuss issues related to women empowerment as March 8 is International Women’s Day.
In addition to this, the BJP is also running five other campaigns in these countries. This includes ‘Run for Unity’, ‘NaMo Tea Party’, ‘Modi for PM’, ‘NaMo Restaurant’ and ‘Vote for Modi — Vote for India’.
Jolly said the BJP has roped in doctors, technocrats, lawyers, academicians, as-well-as businessmen abroad to run online campaigns for Modi, particularly through social media like Facebook and Twitter. The countries include Australia, United Kingdom, Iceland, New Zealand, Sweden, Fiji, Denmark, Poland, Romania, Japan, Nepal, Mauritius, Sri lanka, Nigeria, China, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Mexico, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, Norway and Indonesia among others.
As per estimates, the United States alone has nearly 22 lakh Indians, followed by 12 lakh in the UAE, 41,000 in Hong Kong, 22,000 in Japan and 11,000 in Macau. The Indian population in the UK is also over 10 lakh.
BJP volunteers and conveners in these countries are selected through an organised process and they are required to establish their ideological connection with the BJP, RSS, ABVP or any other wing of the BJP while in India.
Meanwhile, Jolly has written to the Election Commission of India to facilitate voting by NRIs through postal ballots at Indian Missions abroad or online. He said these registered voters are unable to participate in the election process as no facility is currently in place to allow them to cast their votes. He said 128 countries of the world have extended this facility to their citizens staying abroad.