CHENNAI: BJP national chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday called up-on his party members to take up a massive campaign to propagate Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, including cleanliness, khadi and environment, in connection with the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma.
Shah who addressed Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled State and party seniors in other States, through video conferencing, was said to have discussed about economic issues. He spoke about measures taken by the Modi government to boost economy, which has seen a slump. With the election commission of India announcing the schedule for the by-election to Nanguneri and Vikravandi Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, he was also said to have discussed about taking the poll campaign forward.
“Amit Shahji has asked us to launch padayatra between October 2, coinciding with Gandhi’s birth anniversary, and October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Party leaders were asked to cover every village during the campaign,” former Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan said. He exuded confidence that this campaign would ensure change in the minds of the people.
The saffron party may face an uphill task in taking its campaign in Tamil Nadu where the opposition DMK and allies are “allergic” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP. The party had faced a humiliating defeat in the April Lok Sabha elections, despite aligning with the ruling AIADMK. The DMK-combine had decimated the AIADMK alliance and won 38 Lok Sabha seats. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam’s son P. Ravindranath Kumar, alone managed to win from Theni LS seat.
Sources said Shah had also asked the party members to clean statues of all iconic leaders.
Mr. Modi had already asked the party MPs to undertake a 150 km padyatra between October 2 and October 31.
Speaking from the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Shah, asserted that the measures, especially a major cut in corporate tax rate, will give a big boost to economy, say sources.
