As Congress ups the ante, PM Modi to address BJP MPs on government's welfare schemes

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tomorrow address a workshop of BJP MPs on how to take the government's "pro-poor" initiatives to the people and counter Congress's mounting attack on the Centre over the land bill which the opposition claims to be "anti-farmer".

The one-day workshop coincides with the Congress's 'Kisan Rally' at the Ram Leela Grounds here tomorrow and comes at a time when the opposition is consistently working to paint the government as "anti-poor" and "pro-industry".

The workshop, "Garib Kalyan Yojnaye: Its Effective Implementation and Role of MPs", will focus on the government's pro-poor welfare programmes and how to take them to the grassroots level.

While Prime Minister Modi will deliver the inaugural address, BJP President Amit Shah will make the concluding remarks. Several senior ministers including Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Thawar Chand Gehlot would address the MPs.

Sources in the BJP Parliamentary Party, which is organising the workshop in association with Shri Rambhau Mhalagi Prabodhini, a training and research academy, said the government had conceived several pro-poor and welfare schemes and will seek suggestions from MPs to improve on these and spread the word around that the government cares for the poor.

The workshop will focus on ensuring success of several welfare schemes launched by various ministries.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will make a presentation on 'Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojna' while Health Minister J P Nadda will talk about MPLAD funds. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will talk on development agenda, its social dimension and the need to follow up, the party said.

BJP will later hold similar workshop for private secretaries and personal assistants of MPs. A senior party leader said the success of the schemes directly depends on the involvement of local public representatives, who need to have proper understanding and should make a concerted effort for cooperation of people and involvement of the bureaucracy.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who has returned from his two-month long absence, is set to address the farmers' rally tomorrow.