Modi glad with BJP’s growth in Telugu states, Honors Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness over the BJP’s rising strength in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, compared to a few decades ago when it did not have a strong foundation in the two Telugu states.

In a message to young politicians in Telangana and AP, Modi said the power does not reflect in the comforts of life but is a medium to accomplish one’s resolutions by involving in service.

Releasing three books on the life of former vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu on the eve of his 75th birthday through a video conference, the Prime Minister said that the life of Venkaiah Naidu was a perfect glimpse of amalgamation of ideas, vision and personality.

“When the Jan Sangh was not having a presence in united Andhra Pradesh, Naidu, as a simple worker of the ABVP, strived for the ideology of 'nation first’,” he said. Modi lauded Naidu for fighting against the Emergency, which was imposed by Indira Gandhi 50 years ago.

Explaining why he considered Naidu a true friend, Modi said he was a braveheart who fought against the Emergency tooth and nail.

“During the Vajpayee government, Naidu chose to become Union rural development minister to serve villages, poor and farmers. Later, as the Union urban development minister, Naidu worked with a vision to see modern Indian cities. The programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart City Mission and Amrit Yojna have played a key role to bring a change,” Modi said.

Stating that he had learnt a lot from Naidu, Modi said the former vice-president had created a positive environment during his tenure as the Rajya Sabha Chairman and recalled the introduction of the Bill to revoke Article 370 in the Upper House before being tabled in the Lok Sabha. He also recalled Naidu’s experienced leadership in the passage of such a sensitive bill while maintaining the decorum of the House.

“No one can match Naidu’s wit, spontaneity, quick counters and one-liners,” Modi observed.