Peace, harmony and unity must for development: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers to commit themselves to “peace, unity and harmony”, which he emphasised are essential for development, the main plank of the BJP. The comments followed riots in Delhi that, according to its critics, were instigated by statements made by members of the ruling party.

The PM also took a swing at the Congress and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, without naming the latter during the weekly parliamentary party meeting held at Parliament House complex on Tuesday, said people who were present.

While the BJP draws inspiration and gives priority to the wellbeing of the nation over party politics, some parties have taken the opposite view, he told party MPs from both Houses.


“In this tug-of-war between welfare of the party and that of the nation, it is the nation that will have to win,” Modi said. “We have to fight this battle not only as BJP workers but also as sons of Bharat Mata. The aim of this struggle is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” Modi said, reiterating the BJP’s 2019 election refrain.

He also referred to the ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan that’s been the theme of several BJP rallies in recent days.

‘Development Basic Mantra’
BJP sources said Modi recalled the days of the freedom movement and said some Congress members at that time treated the singing of Vande Mataram “as a crime”.

“Whenever Vande Mataram would be sung, some Congress members would stand up in respect while others walked out. I feel immense pain when I see that even 70 years after Independence, somebody who had occupied the high and respected post of Prime Minister looks at a slogan like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ with suspicion and has an allergy to it. This view is very painful and every patriot has a lot of anger and pain at this,” Modi was cited as telling the party MPs.

Manmohan Singh had recently said that the slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ was “being misused to construct a militant and purely emotional idea of India that excludes millions of residents and citizens”.

Modi urged the BJP MPs to take the message of “peace, unity and harmony” to the people.

“Development and only development is our basic mantra,” he said. “To serve the nation through development is the only aim of our political activism. We have to keep in mind that peace, unity and harmony are a precondition for development. We have to ensure that our commitment to peace, unity and harmony is always reflected through our thoughts, words and deeds (manasa, vacha, karmana).”