PM Modi warns BJP legislators against making out of turn statements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sent out a stern warning to BJP MPs and MLAs across the country asking them to desist from making foot-in-mouth remarks on every issue, which in turn might end up hurting the party's image.

Using the Narendra Modi App, the PM reportedly asked BJP legislators not to make ill- informed statements that could later be used by the media and urged the leaders to instead use social media as a tool to connect with people.

"We commit mistakes and give masala to media. The moment we see a camera, we jump to make a statement as if we are great social scientists or experts ... and then these ill-informed statements are used by media. It is not the media's fault," he said.



The last couple of months alone saw a lot of BJP leaders make controversial comments. Last week, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb claimed that the Internet was not gifted to mankind by the US and instead was invented lakhs of years ago and the knowledge of satellite communication existed during the period of Mahabharata.

In January, Union minister Satyapal Singh claimed that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was 'scientifically wrong' and should be removed from school curriculum.

However, it seems Modi’s message did not reach Minister of State for Finance Santosh Gangwar. While commenting on the Kathua rape, Gangwar said in a country as big as India people should not make an issue out of one or two rape incidents.

Modi also urged the representatives to try and expand the party's outreach. He also said that it was not because of any weakness in Congress, but BJP's grassroots level outreach efforts that had brought the party vast majority in 2014.

Addressing the party legislators, the PM said that their connect with people has ushered in a positive change by ensuring that schemes reach the masses as well as concerns of people reach the lawmakers.

Modi also asked party leaders to encourage the use of BHIM app and further the movement of cashless transactions.

The PM asserted on the need to focus on skill development and highlighted the benefit of Mudra Yojna. During the one hour-long interaction, the PM said 11 crore people had already benefited from the Mudra Yojana scheme. “Women in self-help groups are coming up with new employment opportunities in various sectors,” he said.

On the recently launched Ayushman Bharat scheme, Modi said, “the government wants to establish wellness centres for villages, so that people can avail the best healthcare facilities. The government is focusing on education to children, opportunities for youth and medicine for elderly.”