New Delhi: Making it a perfect occasion to sensitise 400-odd ruling NDA MPs on government initiatives and schemes ahead of the coming Winter Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the parliamentarians on Sunday to become a “symbol of positive politics”.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative after he led the NDA to a stunning electoral victory earlier this year, the Prime Minister hosted a high tea for MPs of the ruling coalition where four of his top ministerial colleagues, including finance minister Arun Jaitley and rural development minister Nitin Gadkari, briefed the legislators about the government’s initiatives and schemes.
At the event held at his 7 Race Course residence, the Prime Minister also made a fervent pitch to all NDA MPs to ensure the success of his ambitious projects like the “Clean India” campaign, the “MP Model Village” scheme and the “Jan Dhan Yojana”.
In his short speech, Mr Modi said: “Let us think big. Let us think far. Let us think above politics.” He urged the MPs to take to the people the work done by the NDA government for the welfare of the poor.
Incidentally, such a meeting also assumed significance as it came ahead of government formation in Maharashtra, amid speculation of a possible BJP-Shiv Sena tieup in the state. All Shiv Sena MPs were present, including Union heavy industries minister Anant Geete. The meeting lasted around two hours, during which the MPs were given presentations on government schemes by the ministers concerned.
Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu was in charge of coordinating the meeting, at which various departments made presentations. Finance minister Arun Jaitley made a presentation on the Jan Dhan Yojana, and labour minister Narinder Singh Tomar gave a briefing on labour reforms. Rural development minister Nitin Gadkari also made a presentation on the PM’s Adarsh Gram Vikas Yojana.
Greeting the assembled MPs, senior leader L.K. Advani said this year’s Diwali was the best he had ever had, as the party had risen to unprecedented heights.
Mr Geete later informed reporters that all Shiv Sena MPs were present. “No political discussions took place during the meeting. It was purely an official function,” he said.
“There was an elaborate discussion on many issues which the government has brought to the nation. We had an address by the Prime Minister, who talked about cleanliness, various issues before the government, how an MP can turn things in this country, how an MP can be a symbol of positive political entity and how the respectability of politicians can be enhanced in the country,” BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters after the meeting.
Mr Rudy said the PM talked about a gamut of subjects and his spectrum was very wide, as the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. “The Prime Minister happily endorsed the achievements of the BJP and greeted Amit Shah on his victory in Haryana and Maharashtra,” he added.
Besides BJP and Sena MPs, those of other NDA allies like the Shiromani Akali Dal, TDP, LJP, Apna Dal and other Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs were present at the gathering.
RPI chief Ramdas Athawale told reporters that he had said to BJP chief Amit Shah that the BJP should form the government in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena on board, and to keep the NCP away. “I have requested Amit Shah and Rajiv Pratap Rudy that the BJP should take the lead in forming the government in Maharashtra at the earliest. It is not good to form a government with the support of the NCP,” he said.
