Focus On Reform, Not Vote Banks, Modi Tells BJP Workers

Urging BJP workers to focus on social reforms and positive changes rather than vote bank politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that over the past 12 years, the gap between cities and villages in India has significantly narrowed and infrastructure in villages has improved to a great extent.

Virtually interacting with participants of 'Seva Yatra', an ongoing motorcycle rally travelling from Varanasi to Vadnagar, he said that self-reliance among women has also increased in the country.

The Prime Minister said, "When we look at the life of Mahatma Gandhi, we see that alongside fighting against the British and leading the freedom movement, he was also a great social reformer. He always worked against the evils prevalent in society. Therefore, we political workers too must continue working towards social reform and positive change, not look at vote banks. Those who serve society deserve to have their service respected.”

He praised those who carried out the cleanliness work in Prayagraj, noting that their efforts made the 'Kumbh Mela' famous worldwide for sanitation and elevated India's honour. "So, I felt compelled to wash the feet of those who have enhanced India's honour so much, to seek their blessings," the Prime Minister said.

Modi said that the 'Seva Yatra' has played a very important role in his own life and there is hardly any district in the country that he has not had the privilege of visiting.

"There are countless districts where I have had the opportunity to spend the night. Every journey and every experience gathered along the way continues to guide me like a guru even today. These journeys have taught me so much," he said.

Vadnagar in Gujarat is the birthplace of Modi, while Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is his Lok Sabha constituency since 2014. The two rallies – Vadnagar to Varanasi and Varanasi to Vadnagar-- are passing through towns, districts, and villages to take the spirit of service directly to the grassroots.

Modi said Vadnagar gave him the values that shaped his life, and Kashi (Varanasi) has added countless colours of service to those values.

"I am glad that all of you, young friends, are also enriching this journey with the many colours of service," he said.

The two bike rallies are bringing together several dimensions of public engagement, including 'seva' (service), 'sampark' (connect), youth participation, social welfare, cultural connect and community mobilisation, and carrying them from one grassroots location to another.

Paying tributes to 'Sangh Parivar' ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, the Prime Minister said that Upadhyaya had talked about seven principles to fulfil duties towards the society and those seven principles filled every BJP worker with new energy.

He said, “These seven principles are Spirit of Service, Balance, Self-restraint, Coordinators, Positivity, Sensitivity and Dialogue.”

"We will only stop after building a developed India. This sentiment is manifested in the 'Seva Sankalp Yatra', and this sentiment is visible everywhere," the Prime Minister said.