BHOPAL: After setting an ambitious target of clinching 360 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah has now made plans for next half a century. Addressing the party workers in Bhopal, Shah said BJP has come to power not for a mere five or 10 years, but for at least 50 years.
Calling upon the workers to strengthen the party in every nook and corner of the country, Shah urged them to move forward with conviction so as to bring major changes in the country through the medium of power in the next 40-50 years.
Shah was addressing Madhya Pradesh BJP’s core group members, office-bearers, MPs, MLAs, and district chiefs, among others, at the party headquarters in Bhopal on Friday. His visit to MP is a part of his 110-day nationwide tour. Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (United) has come into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold and the two warring factions of AIADMK are also likely to announce a merger ahead of Shah’s visit to Tamil Nadu.
Shah, who has kept the party in constant poll mode after assuming presidentship, further said that though the BJP appears to be at its peak with a majority government at the Centre and 1,387 MLAs in states, it still has a long way to go.
“Today, we have a majority government at the Centre with 330 MPs and also have 1,387 MLAs in different states. The party appears to be at its peak, but dedicated workers feel we have a long way ahead,” he said, while asking party workers to ensure that BJP was present in every polling booth, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kamrup to Kutch.
The BJP President reminded the activists that the party has become a political force to reckon with due to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of its leaders over the years. “Today, the BJP has become a party of 10-12 crore members because of many stalwarts who dedicated their lives to building and strengthening of the organisation. We have to ensure that no place in the country is left where we don’t have our flag. For this, we have to strengthen the organisation further,” he said. Later, talking to the media, Shah said that in the last three years that the party has governed at the Centre, no one from the Opposition has dared to make allegations of corruption against it. He further said that earlier, nearly 60 crore people did not have bank accounts in the country.
“With the Jan-Dhan Yojana, the Modi government has succeeded in eliminating corruption through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme,” Shah said, adding that the government was taking stringent steps against black money.
No age bar
Amit Shah said his party has not set any rule disallowing its members to contest elections after they turn 75.
On Ram temple issue, Shah said BJP wants it to be built after the court’s decision or through mutual understanding.
On border standoff with China, he said the government has made its stand clear.
