Modi Promises Free Electricity for Poor Under ‘Saubhagya Yojana’
PM Modi may seek to dispel concerns over the state of the economy and lay down his govt’s economic, political agenda
Key Highlights of National Executive
A key highlight of the meeting will be the presence of the party's all-elected lawmakers – close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs, and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states, among others.
Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address, may use the opportunity to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions.
With the Opposition attacking the government's handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP and the failure of demonetisation, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources said.
BJP Leaders, Ministers Arrive For Meet
The BJP is set to hold its national executive meet on 25 September in New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi may seek to dispel concerns over the state of the economy and lay down his government's economic and political agenda.
Party president Amit Shah on 24 September held a meeting with office-bearers, state chiefs, and key organisational leaders to finalise the agenda, including resolutions, which the national executive is expected to discuss on 25 September, the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
BJP's National Executive Meet Begins
Senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Ministers, state Chief Ministers, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the national executive meeting at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
"BJP Gives Opportunity on Merit"
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, while addressing the media, said that the meet is “inspirational” for party workers. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of ‘Clean India’ and ‘New India’, and that the party cadre must contribute to his vision.
He said that BJP chief Amit Shah condemned the violence in Kerala and West Bengal and that the party is opposed to politics of violence.
Goyal then lashed out at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi saying the leader has been undermining India during his foreign trips, but Amit Shah has given him a befitting reply with facts.
He added that Shah also hit out at Rahul for defending dynastic politics and said that the country’s President and Vice-President reached their position due to their performance.
Speaking on the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls this year, Goyal said:
Will Double Earnings of Farmers by 2022: Gadkari
BJP leader and Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari Terrorism briefed the media on BJP’s ongoing national executive meet saying several issues have been discussed including 'One Nation One Tax' initiative of implementing GST, Doklam stand-off and terrorism.
He went on to claim that the BJP doesn’t support violence of any form be it against journalists or party workers. “It is against democracy”, he said.
On the issue of agriculture, the Minister said that it is the “most important sector” and it is “not in a very good state”.
Gadkari said that relations with neighbouring countries are continuously improving.
Condemning the BHU violence, Gadkari said that an enquiry had been launched into the incident, where students protesting against harassment of a fellow student were lathi-charged.
'Violence Will Not Stop Us': Amit Shah
Speaking at the BJP national executive meet, party national president Amit Shah said that the Modi-led government had done more work in its three years of governance than the UPA's 10 years.
He tweeted out his parts of his speech at the meet.
Further condemning the increasing spate of violence, he said,
"Some people think that they can stop the BJP with violence, but they cannot. The more they fling the filth of violence at us, the more our lotus will bloom".
He also announced that the party's Kerala unit would take out a march in the state from 3 to 17 October as a mark of protest against the violence directed at party workers in the state.
Cong Questions "Floundering" 'Make in India'
Responding to BJP President Amit Shah’s statements against the Congress in the party’s national executive meet, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the party should “stop their obsession with Rahul Gandhi”.
He further questioned several of BJP’s flagship programmes, including ‘Make in India’.
"Dip in Economy Only in Last 3 Months": Arun Jaitley
Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley briefed the media on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the BJP’s national executive meet, addressing a range of issues.
Highlighting the government’s programmes over the past three years, Jaitley said that the PM insisted on taking politics beyond election, and towards the welfare of people.
Speaking on the party’s welfare programmes, specifically towards in rural areas, Jaitley said the PM had asked BJP workers to visit villages to provide solutions towards doubling farmer incomes by 2022. He added that PM Modi is expected to announce a welfare scheme at 6.30 pm.
Jaitley said that the PM also spoke against the usage of ‘harsh language’ by the Opposition, while leveling accusations against the government.
On corruption, Modi is to have said,
When questioned about the country’s economic slowdown, Jaitley said that the dip was only in the last three months.
PM Modi to Launch 'Saubhagya Yojana'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to launch a rural electrification scheme ‘Saubhagya Yojana’ at 6.30 pm today.
Watch: PM Modi Launches ‘Saubhagya Yojana’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Saubhagya yojana', a rural electrification scheme, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Urja Bhavan.
The scheme aims at rural electrification for all, and promises electrification to BPL households without charging any fees i.e. free of cost. Speaking at the launch, RK Singh, Minister of Power, said that the scheme aims at completing 100% electrification by December 2018.
The scheme provides for an LED bulb and a mobile charging point, along with a prepaid meter.
PM Modi Promises Electricity for Free to BPL Families
Announcing the ‘Sahaj bijli har ghar’ or ‘Saubhagya Yojana’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to bring electricity into BPL (below poverty line) households in the country, free of cost. He also added that the government will voluntarily approach these households and provide them with basic electricity.
He said that close to Rs 16,000 crore will be pumped into this scheme.
Adding that close to 3,000 households were yet to be provided with electricity, Modi said that his government would strive towards ensuring that all BPL households, whether rural or urban.
Elaborating on the country’s power and energy situation, Modi pushed for a ‘Clean India’, adding that India had transformed into innovators in the field of renewable energy.
The BJP is holding its National Executive meeting today at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to speak on his government's economic and political agenda, while party chief Amit Shah will deliver the inaugural speech.
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- Second day of BJP’s national executive meet in New Delhi begins
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the valedictory speech
- The meet also marks the end of a year-long exercise to commemorate Deen Dyal Upadhyaya’s 100th birth anniversary
- Around 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs, and all MLCs, besides BJP’s core group leaders are expected to be present
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