Keep focus on nationalism, Modi tells BJP leaders

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23

Amid the formulation of strategy for elections in key states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told top BJP leaders that “nationalism is the identity of the party and that they should not be apologetic about it”.

Addressing a workshop of core groups of state BJP units, Modi spoke about the weeklong “tiranga yatra” to mark Independence Day and its “positive impact” to stress his point. As per party leaders, the Prime Minister said the “yatra” played a key role in spreading the spirit of national unity, integrity and harmony at a time when anti-BJP forces were at work.

Notably, the stress on nationalism at the workshop assumes importance in the backdrop of the ongoing Kashmir unrest and Amnesty event row in Bengaluru. "Nationalism was a key factor in the BJP's victory in the General Elections in 2014 and it should be maintained,” BJP sources said.

In a statement issued by the BJP, Modi lamented while the BJP was “continuously working for development, some elements which do not like it were trying to divert people’s attention”. “We will have to inform the common man that our sole aim is nation building,” he said. 

Asserting that the BJP was dedicated to the welfare of the poor, he said the government would continue to come out with pro-poor schemes to realise his motto of “antyodaya” — uplift of the last man.

Sources said he also told the leaders to combat the allegations that it was failing to stand for and protect the weaker sections of society. "As many as 80 per cent of party workers come from the SC/ST and OBC categories. Do not let the misinformation succeed," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah stressed on the need of discipline and unity. The BJP, he said, had to expand geographically and across different sections of society. 

The aim of today's meeting was to ensure uniformity in dissemination of the works and policy of the government from the top to bottom and take stock of organisational works. On August 27, Shah will also meet BJP-ruled states’ CMs.