BJP not an election machine, aims to win hearts: Modi on party's 41st Foundation Day

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 6

Amid elections to four states and UT, including West Bengal where his party is engaged in a bitter contest with the ruling TMC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the BJP is not an election-winning machine but a movement to win hearts of the people. 

Speaking on the party’s 41st ‘Sthapna Divas’ (foundation day) the PM accused BJP’s rivals of building “false narratives” around issues to create “political instability” in the country. “The 21st century is watching the end of dynastic rule. Masks of false secularism are also coming off, the BJP government’s ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas’ has ensured that,” the Prime Minister said, addressing party cadres.

Asking them to remain watchful of such attempts, the Prime Minister said “imaginary fear” is being spread on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), labour laws, and farm laws with the purpose to create “political instability” in the country. “Therefore, rumours are spread in the country, confusion is created… Sometimes they say the Constitution will be changed, sometimes that reservation will be quashed and sometimes that farmers’ land will be snatched,” he said, asking cadres to create awareness among the people on welfare schemes run by the Central government and combat “false narratives” by opponents on issues like farm laws and the CAA.

Meanwhile, slamming those calling the BJP an “election-winning machine”, PM Modi said critics have never understood the maturity of Indian democracy. “When the BJP wins elections, it is called ‘election-winning machine’ but when others win, the party and its leaders are praised. “People who call BJP an ‘election-winning machine’ have not been able to measure the intelligence of its voters, they will never be able to understand their aspirations and dreams. The truth is that BJP is not an ‘election-winning machine’, but a continuous movement to win hearts of the country,” he said.

Lauding cadres, PM Modi said what is visible in public is just a “tip of the iceberg” as majority remains hidden and working at grassroots. “It is because of them the BJP is the largest party in the world,” he said, also mentioning how many party-men were killed and attacked but they remained steadfast to their ideology. At the same time, he also asked them to be “humble” in the party’s electoral wins and achievements and continue working for welfare of people. “Set a 25-year personal goal as well as one for the party,” he said.

Making a pitch of the nation above party, the PM said the government is being evaluated on its delivery system. He specifically mentioned how government’ schemes have empowered small farmers and women, citing the triple talaq law, increased maternity leave and greater property rights. Attacking the opposition, Modi said, “Parties that began with help from local aspirations, became a family-based party later. These parties, who were wearing a mask of secularism, are finally being unmasked.”

Stating that the BJP respects and honours even its political rivals and those opposed to its ideologies, the PM said: “We do not believe in political untouchability.”

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