PTI, NEW DELHI: Launching a mega drive to seek views from 10 crore people for BJP’s manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha election, its chief Amit Shah asserted Sunday that only the Modi government can ensure inclusive growth as it has laid a “strong” foundation for India’s long-term development.
Shah, along with senior party leader Rajnath Singh, launched “Bharat ke mann ki baat, Modi ke saath”, a month-long campaign to seek suggestions from people across the country to help the BJP prepare its ‘sankalp patra’ for the general election, expected to be held in April-May.
Asserting that this nationwide exercise is the first of its kind by any political party in the country, Shah said it is aimed at “democratising” the process of preparing manifesto and will involve the general public in deciding the framework of the “New India” they want.
“This is not a BJP programme but people’s exercise. This is a unique experiment, will strengthen democracy in the country,” Shah said. He said election manifestoes are often taken lightly but his party is determined to restore its sanctity.
“What kind of country people want and what is their suggestion. This exercise will help in reaching out to them to seek their views,” Shah told reporters at an event here.
The BJP sought the first suggestion under the outreach campaign from a waiter of the hotel where the event was organised.
A tagline of the campaign is “Kaam kare jo, ummeed usi se so” (You expect from one who works), with photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi displayed prominently on its publicity material.
Shah said the big difference between BJP and other parties is it has kept its internal democracy intact while dynasty, casteism and vote banks power its rivals; they can never provide the country the inclusive development and holistic progress it needs, he said.
The BJP is ideologically driven, Shah added.
He claimed before 2014, the country was gripped by anxiety and fear, and the BJP-led government laid the foundation of a strong India after it came to power that year.
