Nationalism brought BJP to power, stick to the message, says PM to BJP

Warns party leaders not to ‘leak’ organisational matters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked leaders of the BJP to continue focusing on “nationalism”, which he said was the saffron party’s “identity”. His statement comes at a time when both the ruling party and the Centre are facing criticism over their “aggressive nationalism”. In the wake of the government and BJP being targeted over atrocities on dalits, Mr Modi asked party leaders to fight against the perception and allegations by the Opposition parties. He said 80 per cent of the BJP’s karyakartas were from the SC, ST and OBC communities, and both the government and the party were “sensitive”.

In his concluding remarks at the meeting of core group leaders of BJP state units, the PM exhorted them not to leak organisation-related matters. He cautioned the core committee members, saying “those who cannot keep organisational issues secret... have no right to be members of the committee”. Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah stressed on the need for discipline and unity, and asked party leaders to make efforts to expand the organisation’s base and connect with the masses. Mr Shah said the core groups’ main responsibility was to see the organisation was strengthened till the booth level. He also said that collective decision-making and collective leadership should be the main mantras of core groups in state units. He described the core groups as the foundation stone of the organisation’s working.

Mr Modi also praised the just-concluded “Tiranga Yatras” across the country to mark the 70th Independence Day. The PM asserted that the “yatra” had played an important role in spreading the spirit of national unity, integrity and harmony at a time when forces against them were at work. He also praised Mr Shah for organising such a workshop of core groups for the first time.

“We are continuously working for development but there are some elements who do not like it. They are trying to divert our and the people’s attention. We will have to inform the common man that our sole aim is nation-building,” said a BJP statement quoting Mr Modi.

With BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay’s birth centenary year beginning September 25, the PM said his government would continue to come out with pro-poor schemes to realise his motto of antodaya (upliftment of the last man).

Reminding the leaders that the BJP was the only political party where the organisation was supreme, the PM said it should be used to strengthen society. He also said it was a lot easier to run an organisation while in the Opposition, “but when you are in power, you are scrutinised for everything”. He said though there were forces that were working against the organisation, the BJP’s “aim is nation-building”.