Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday scoffed at Opposition efforts to forge a Mahagathbandhan for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, saying it was nothing but their compulsion and a vindication of the BJP-led governments success.
Setting the tone for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he sees “no challenge” to the BJP and described unity efforts among Opposition parties “unable to stand each other” as proof of his government’s popularity and his party’s big success.
Addressing the media after PM Modi’s valedictory speech at the two-day event, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted Modi’s speech to say that the party further plans to take Vajpayee’s work and ideas to the people in a number of programmes in the coming months.
“PM Modi paid tributes to Atalji and coined a powerful phrase in his honour, ‘Ajay Bharat, Atal BJP’ to honour an India that is not to be subjugated by anyone. The BJP remains firmly committed to its principle”, Prasad said quoting PM Modi
In his concluding address at the party’s two-day national executive meeting, Modi also heaped scorn on Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying his party’s leadership is not acceptable to any ally, is seen as a burden by some others and is not acceptable to a few within his own party.
The Opposition has neither ideology nor a leader and any coordination, with its policies unclear and intentions corrupt, Modi said, according to Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who briefed the media on the speech in the closed-door meeting.
The Prime Minister further attacked the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, saying it lacks leadership.On the other hand, expressing confidence about his party coming back to power in 2019, BJP president Amit Shah said on Sunday that BJP will rule the country for the next 50 years.
“Amit Shah said the party will win the 2019 elections because of its performance and then no one can dethrone the BJP for the next 50 years,” Prasad told reporters quoting the party president.
Modi asked them to move around in groups to tell people how his government has worked to fulfil dream of Mahatma Gandhi, whose birth anniversary falls on 2 October.
On simultaneous polls, he said his government has already done “one nation, one tax”, a reference to the Goods and Services Tax, and “one nation, one power grid”, but is not for creating pressure on this issue.
When asked whether issues such as the Opposition’s allegation on the Rafale deal or the raging issue of rise in oil prices came up for discussion, Prasad answered in the negative. Various government functionaries have been speaking on this matter. When asked about the Ram temple issue, Prasad said the matter is currently being heard in the Supreme Court.