Amid the continuing suspense over the contours of a BJP alliance in Maharashtra, the spotlight was on the Shiv Sena MPs. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi shifted it away, choosing to focus on his government’s welfare schemes, at his Diwali Milan for NDA MPs on Sunday “Let’s think big. Let’s think far. Let’s think above politics,” Modi told the gathering at the high tea hosted at his official residence at 7 RCR — his first such meeting with the coalition MPs after taking over as PM. Like the Diwali Milan with the media hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah on Saturday, it was Modi’s show once again. The event, which was initially planned only for BJP MPs but later included all NDA MPs, was the PM’s idea — a bid to keep MPs in the loop about the government’s initiatives. The message was clear: each MP belonging to the ruling coalition should be deeply involved in the implementation of around 64 welfare programmes of the government and ensure that the benefits, as well as the political message, filter down to every village “The schemes should reach the grassroot level in a more planned manner so that they have some impact on the lives of the people. The implementation should be more focussed and organised,” said a source. “The PM is of the view that MPs’ taking direct initiatives and their involvement in every programme will check corruption also,” he added. The MPs were also asked to give special attention to skill development programmes. Modi also asserted that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan would be the flagship programmes of the BJP-led government. “There was an elaborate discussion on many issues which the government has brought to the nation. We had an address by the Prime Minister who talked about cleanliness, various issues before the government, how a common MP can change things in this country, how a common MP can be a symbol of positive political entity and how the respectability of politicians can be enhanced in the country,” BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters after the meeting. While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley briefed the gathering on the Jan Dhan scheme, coal, gas pricing and diesel deregulation, Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke about the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar briefed them on various initiatives under the Shramev Jayate Karyakram. Pointing out that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan had received tremendous response from all sections of society, Modi urged the MPs to use it to “connect” with people in their respective areas. He asked them to visit schools in their areas over a five-day period beginning November 14, the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, to explain the importance of hygiene. “This will send a positive message,” he said. Echoing the same message, BJP chief Amit Shah also urged the MPs to “go and explain to the people” the work being done by the government. The meeting was also used to prepare the NDA’s strategy for the coming winter session, which is expected to begin on November 23.
