At BJP meet, Modi outlines 7-point 'mantra' for party workers

Allahabad: Skipping any mention of controversial issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked party workers to follow seven mantras, including empathy and restraint in their conduct, and said people are not content with mere slogans but concerned about how the nation is being strengthened.

Delivering his concluding address to the party’s National Executive, which saw its president Amit Shah raising concerns over ‘migration’ of Hindus from a communally-sensitive western UP town, Modi made no reference to the controversial issues and instead asked leaders to use power for the benefit of society.

He also invoked Maratha icon Shivaji, saying he did not enjoy the fruits of power despite being a ruler and sarcastically added that the country has on the contrary also seen those who enjoyed the fruits of power without legitimately owning it, a veiled dig at the Gandhi family of the Congress.

The Prime Minister referred to the party’s win in Assam and growth in Kerala and West Bengal and had a word of caution for its leaders and workers.

“We are witnessing history in the making. We are benefiting from the hard work of crores of workers for over many decades in building the party. We are in power in the Centre and many states as well. We should not get affected by this power but think as to how we can use this for the society’s benefit.”

“There is a need to strengthen the nation. People are no longer satisfied only with slogans. They are concerned over how the nation is being made strong,” he said.

Briefing reporters about Modi’s speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Prime Minister also laid down seven mantras for party workers to follow in their conduct and policy.

“Sevabhaav, Santulan, Sanyam, Samnway, Sakaratmak, Sadbhavana and Samvad (Service, balance, restraint, coordination, positivity, empathy and dialogue) - The Prime Minister stressed to the workers that all these seven traits should be reflected in their conduct and policy,” Jaitley said.

He had earlier used the word ‘sadbhavna’ (harmony) but later clarified that it was ‘samvedna’ (empathy). “To sum up, the message from the National Executive is that when the party’s political power has grown, this power has to be used for the society,” Jaitley said.

To a question over what was the provocation for Modi to lay down seven-point mantra, he quipped, "politicians make well-considered statements, not necessarily under provocations."

Jaitley said that 2014 Lok Sabha poll was an important occasion, when the BJP emerged as the largest party. 2016 has its own significance. If seen politically, the popularity of the Prime Minister and his government is not only in place but has risen.

Geographically, the party was rising even in those areas, where it was weak historically, he said, noting that there was a particular significance of BJP forming government in Assam and increasing its vote share in Kerala and West Bengal.

“We believed so far that there are two important political parties in the country besides some other small parties. In 2016, a huge difference has come in the comparative power and popularity of the two. So from the political point of view, this is very important for the party to take the country forward while remaining in power and expand in North East analyzing the present political scenario there,” Jaitley said.

Party Chief Amit Shah talked about the need to establish a party office in each district and inter connectivity among all of them.

Unveiling future expansion target of the party, Shah said at the National Executive that the party needs to be strengthened further in seven states like West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

Jaitley said that one of the objectives of the meeting was also to deliberate on how to take the nation forward and credited Modi government for making India the ‘brightest spot and fastest growing economy’ from a state of ‘policy paralysis’.