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To blunt the Opposition’s charge, especially of the Congress, that the Narendra Modi government has been acting in an “autocratic and anti-democratic” manner, the Uttar Pradesh BJP will campaign to make young voters “aware of the Emergency” declared by the Indira Gandhi government on June 25, 1975. On June 25, to mark its anniversary, the BJP will hold programmes in each Lok Sabha constituency of the state where a documentary on the Emergency will be screened.
“The special programme on June 25 will be organised for those people who were born after the Emergency. They do not know how the nation suffered during the Emergency, which was imposed by the Congress. Youths will be told how the Congress had destroyed democracy by declaring Emergency. The intellectual class of the society, who are the opinion makers, will also be invited at these events,” said a senior BJP leader, adding young voters must be aware of the Emergency so that they could make a “comparison between Congress and BJP rule”.
“In the past, the BJP felicitated Loktantra Senanis imprisoned during the Emergency as political prisoners, on June 25. This time, the focus will be on the awareness of young voters,” said the party functionary.
The event will be part of the UP BJP’s month-long Mahasampark Abhiyan, beginning May 30 to mark nine years of the Modi government. The party has planned similar outreach in other parts of the country too. On Monday, on the eve of the launch of Mahasampark Abhiyan, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri will address the media in Lucknow on the “achievements of nine years of Modi government”.
During the month-long campaign, the BJP will run another programme — “Vikasteerth Ka Avalokan” — in which the party will showcase development project sites, referred to as “teerth” or pilgrimage. As part of the programme, BJP leaders and workers will take people and media persons to the sites of major projects developed by the Central or the state government. Local MP, MLAs, and party leaders of the local district unit will also visit the sites. Also, in each of the state’s 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, the party will make a list of 250 local prominent families, including Padma awardees, sportspersons, actors, doctors, former judges and martyrs. Senior party leaders will then visit the homes of these “prominent families” and seek their support for the BJP.
The party will also organise meetings with traders. “Albeit in the past when only prominent traders and businessmen were invited to seek their support, this time, the focus will be on small traders like those running grocery shops, shoe shops, garments sellers, etc. The number of such small traders is more and their reach among the middle-class voters high. In the meetings, we will highlight what the BJP government has done for their welfare and economic uplift,” said another BJP leader.
During the month-long voter outreach campaign, the BJP will also organise 14 other kinds of programmes in Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. The party will also organise rallies in all the Lok Sabha constituencies.
