PM Modi's message to BJP cadre: Put country first, party second

BJP's national executive meeting was attended by 13 CMs, six Deputy CMs, more than 60 Cabinet ministers, 232 state ministers, 515 MLAs and 334 MPs.

Pic Courtesy: IANS

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared that the government's fight against corruption is 'uncompromising' and nobody indulging in graft can escape.

"My battle against corruption will be uncompromising. Anybody caught in this cannot escape. I have no relatives," the PM said.

He also said, at the valedictory address to the BJP national executive meeting, that the battle against terrorism will continue and disclosed that 90 hardcore wanted terrorists have been deported to India from other countries.

Briefing the media on PM's closed-door speech, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "The main point of his speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it an instrument of mass participation. We hold the country first and party as secondary."

"Public participation, improvement of the quality of life of people - this was the thrust of PM's speech," the FM reiterated.

"The PM said that anybody caught indulging in corruption cannot escape," Jaitley.

At the same time, the PM took on the Opposition for criticism of his government, saying that they "used power for consumption. They do not know how to sit in the Opposition," and added, "Harsh language cannot be a substitute for any substantive charge against the government."

"The Prime Minister also referred to change in the nomenclature of lavatory in Uttar Pradesh where it is now called 'izzat ka ghar' (the home of dignity). People's idiom has to change. It has to be simple to become popular," the FM said.

Talking about the state of India's economy, he said, "There is a dip in the GDP in the last quarter. Dip in GDP was due to lack of investments and manufacturing."

On the massive electoral gains made by his party, Jaitley said, "No other political party in the country is as active as the BJP. Democracy must be seen beyond elections."

Exuding confidence regarding the next General Elections Jaitley said, "We are sure of a victory in 2019 and that 'New India' will be made under us."

He also revealed that a run for unity will be organised on October 31.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah today criticised Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics during his recent visit to the US and said that his party believed in the politics of performance while the Congress banked on the "politics of appeasement and dynasty".

In his inaugural address at the meet, he pointed out that President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and PM Modi had reached their position due to their work, despite their humble origins.

Shah added that Gandhi the Congress vice president had undermined India.

It was a closed-door event but Union Minister Piyush Goyal briefed the media about the speech.

The meeting was attended by 13 CMs, six Deputy CMs, more than 60 Cabinet ministers, 232 state ministers, 515 MLAs and 334 MPs.

(With Agency inputs)