'Vikas, Vikas, Vikas' is Our Mantra: Modi Tells BJP Workers

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked his party workers not to get distracted by "irrelevant" issues raised by the Opposition.

Modi said that the primary focus should be to move forward with government's agenda of development.

"You should remain unaffected," he said during BJP's two-day National Executive meet that ended on Sunday.

If tough nationalist discourse was the highlight of party chief Amit Shah's address and the political resolution adopted by the meeting, Modi chose to dwell on his government's works, saying the party has always taken up the cause of nationalism and now is the time for development.

"Stay away from irrelevant issues. We should concentrate on our agenda. Our rivals are trying hard to engage us in irrelevant issues. They are creating hurdles to take our developmental plans to the masses. You should ignore such issues," he said.

"We should move ahead with one mantra: vikas, vikas, vikas. This is the answer to our country's all problems. Let’s work together in this direction. Change is happening and the wheel of progress is moving fast," Modi said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh briefed reporters about the Prime Minister's speech at BJP National Executive meeting, which was not open to the media, and said Modi told the audience that a lot of work was done in the 22 months.

Asked about what Modi spoke on nationalism, issue that has dominated the two-day meet, Singh said, "He (Modi) said nationalism is our strength... We have always done agitation on the issue of nationalism and moved forward. Now time has come for development. There is a need for development."

Highlighting the government's schemes, like providing LPG connection to the poor, electrification of over 6500 villages so far and disbursement of Mudra loans to lakhs of people, he asked party workers to reach out to the beneficiaries.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, Modi said he connected people with the freedom movement by taking up their causes.

Speaking about the government's ongoing work to provide 18,500 villages to electricity, he said the party should go to the newly-electrified villages and celebrate 'urja utsav' with the beneficiaries.

He also emphasised on the use of technology, saying it is a tool for development.

Shah in his remarks announced that the party would observe between April 14, Ambedkar's birth anniversary, and April 24, Panchayati Raj day, various programmes across the country focusing on the weaker sections and farmers.

Modi will also address a meeting of panchayat representatives on April 24, Singh said.

Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Piyush Goyal, Prakash Javadekar and Narendra Singh Tomar also made presentations about their ministry's works at the meet.

The party also announced that Modi will go to Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar's birthplace in Madhya Pradesh on his birth anniversary on April 14, a move also likely aimed at wooing crucial Dalit votes ahead of UP assembly election early next year.

(With inputs from PTI)