PM Narendra Modi to BJP's top leaders: Nationalism is the identity of BJP

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that nationalism was the identity of BJP. Addressing BJP's top state leaders at the end of a party workshop in New Delhi on Tuesday, Modi also urged them to spread positivity and reach out to wider sections of society, especially people in art, culture and theatre.

Though the PM did not refer overtly to any political issue at the organisation meeting of his party, he cited the ongoing Tiranga Yatra as an innovative political activity for a party in power. Sources present at the meeting said that the PM highlighted how propagating ideas of national integration had helped in overcoming fissiparous tendencies. BJP has harped on nationalism against the backdrop of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir and row over an Amnesty event in Bengaluru, where a case of sedition was registered over alleged raising of pro-azadi slogans.

"We are continuously working for development but there are some elements who do not like it. They are trying to divert our and people's attention. We will have to inform the common man that our sole aim is nation building," a BJP statement later quoted Modi as saying. A party insider present at the meeting, quoted Modi as also saying, "we should reach out to people from all walks of life including people from arts, music, literature, theatre," a source present in the meeting quoted Modi having exhorted party leaders.

Modi emphasised on the need for the party to reach out to every walk of society. The suggestion holds significance in the wake of a strong backlash from the intelligentsia manifested in the 'award wapsi' trend late last year.