Muslims not a tool to garner votes: PM
‘DISTORTED SECULARISM’ Advocating ideologue Deendayal, Modi stressed the need to create alternate politics
KOZHIKODE (KERALA): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stressed the need for creating an alternate politics as advocated by Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya who had always suggested that no section of people should be left neglected or considered as tools to garner votes.
Citing the “vikrut paribhasha (distorted definition)” of secularism propagated in the country, he recalled that long back, Upadhyaya, founding father of the Jan Sangh -- the predecessor of the ruling BJP -- had said that Muslims should not be mere tools to garner votes nor neglected.
Deendayal had said Muslims should not be treated as “substance of vote market”, said Modi.
“It is in this context, we have launched our developmental programmes based on the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” Modi said in his address at the concluding session here of the BJP’s National Council meet.
“We have always tried to uphold his principles and today we again pledge ourselves to rededicate for the cause of such inclusive development,” he said.
Modi said it was high time we extended a helping hand to the last man -- the poorest man in each corner of the country.
“A country such as ours -- full of young people -- should have youthful dreams and youthful pace”, he said and added that the BJP’s original character was based on principles of welfare of the people and the party had never compromised with its ideals.
Pitching for electoral reforms, Modi said time had come to hold a wide consultations to see how the system can be improved in the context of role of money and holding of simultaneous polls.
“Time has come for a wide discussion on electoral reforms. There is a need to discuss reforms in the electoral system. What are the shortcomings in the electoral system, what is the role of money, the use of government machinery... How many kinds of burden the country faces due to various polls. People of many political parties tell me that something should be done about electoral reforms,” Modi said.