Modi: BJP doesn’t believe in political untouchability
Asserting that the BJP always puts “rashtraneeti(national policy)” above “rajneeti (politics),” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his party does not believe in political untouchability and values consensus in running the country, while noting that his government has bestowed state honours on even the ruling party’s political rivals to acknowledge their service to the nation.
Addressing BJP’s Lok Sabha MPs to mark the 53rd death anniversary of the party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay, the PM said the BJP puts “rashtraneeti” above “rajneeti” and gives respect to even its political rivals. Mr Modi said of “antyodya” (empowering the most downtrodden) and integral humanism are the inspiration behind the government’s welfare works and the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) programme to boost the economy and India has followed the principle of “nation first” in its external policy as well, without being influenced by any pressure. Later in the day, BJP president JP Nadda also addressed the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs at the party headquarters on the occasion asking them and the party supporters to carry Mr Modi’s message to the people. Mr Nadda said Upadhyaya was blessed with multiple qualities and was a leader, an ideologue and a person who bind together the sangathan.
The PM said that the current government has honoured former president and Congress stalwart Pranab Mukherjee with the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna and bestowed former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and former Nagaland chief minister S C Jamir, both Congress leaders, with the Padma award.
The PM recalled said he had once said in Parliament that a government may run with majority but the nation runs with consensus.