PM Modi’s call to BJP on outreach to all

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, advised BJP workers to reach out to the marginalised in all communities. He added that there were poor and needy sections everywhere and that one should work for their upliftment not just for the sake of votes and elections. PM Modi’s call is, in a sense, a departure from the traditional BJP approach. The party had never focused on minority votes in the way that other political parties through the years did, though PM Modi clearly emphasised that they should reach out to the poor and underprivileged not keeping the elections alone in mind. He asked BJP workers to fan out to all parts of the country and verify whether the benefits of government schemes and initiatives were reaching the targeted poor in all communities. What about the attitude of other communities to words the BJP? There is no doubt that there has always been a major trust deficit vis-a-vis the BJP. It is widely believed that there is a general consolidation of votes against the BJP in minority-dominated areas all over the country. PM Modi’s thrust of ‘Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas, Sab ka Vishwas’ as an overarching premise for inclusive governance, has been looked upon with mistrust by the minority communities.Despite minority community leaders and the Congress-Left ecosystem accusing the Narendra Modi-led government of discrimination against religious minorities in India, is it not true that every citizen is an equal stakeholder in development going by the benefits of government schemes? Is there any discrimination when it comes to direct transfer schemes, PM Kisan Bima Yojana, or other welfare initiatives? There is none. The noise against the BJP, the way it has been portrayed and set up as an anti-minority party, the posturing of many of its leaders, and the minimal representation it has given to members of the minority community in states ruled by it, are all contributory factors to its overall image. There is no doubt that on the ground there are a plethora of schemes and programs being implemented by the Narendra Modi government through the Ministry of Minority Affairs. These encompass multiple sectors including education, economic empowerment, infrastructure development, special needs, support to institutions, and waqf management. Prime Minister Modi has also specifically introduced a new 15-point program for the welfare of minorities. The BJP government’s move on triple talaq by declaring the instant divorce granted by pronouncing Talaq thrice, as void and illegal, through the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019, was seen as a major step to protect Muslim women. These being the facts on the ground, Prime Minister Modi’s call to be inclusive in approach when it comes to campaigning is welcome. The party also needs to show these fact sheets to the people at large in the minority community to substantiate the point that there has been no discrimination in the rollout of schemes and initiatives. It also needs to move forward with more confidence-building measures if it has to win the trust of minority communities. The BJP will also have to have more representation among parliamentarians and legislators, of members belonging to the minority community, if it has to earn the larger trust of minority voters. Its leaders and cadre need to work more actively towards building bridges with other communities. Only then can Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s exhortation to his cadre work with tangible results on the ground.