Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to reach out to minorities, including Muslims, without expecting votes. In his valedictory address at the two-day national meeting of BJP executives in Delhi on Tuesday, Modi reportedly spoke about the areas where the party needs to be strengthened ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Prime Minister called on BJP workers to meet Pasmanda Muslims, Bohra community, Muslim professionals and educated Muslims without expecting votes in return. He also told members to visit universities and churches. Modi said under the ‘Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat’ resolution, all states should cooperate with each other and be friendly towards each other’s language and culture.
Modi also noted that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are nearly 400 days away and asked party members to serve every section with full commitment in a speech that several participants described as his grand vision to expand the BJP and lead the country in all aspects.
He also suggested party workers to refrain from making unnecessary remarks on irrelevant topics like movies as they sideline the party’s development agenda. Some party leaders often take a critical stance on films, the latest example being Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Pathaan’, saying it “hurts” people’s sentiments.
Modi said people aged 18-25 have not witnessed India’s political history and are unaware of the “corruption and misdeeds” that took place under previous governments. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that Modi emphasized reaching out to all sections of society, saying his speech was not that of a political leader but a statesman who underlined that he held the nation above the party.
Referring to the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam held in Varanasi recently to celebrate the ancient spiritual ties between the two regions, Modi asked party members to connect with different cultures.
