BJP’s doors are always open to ‘old friends,’ PM Modi says

CHENNAI: Hinting that the BJP was open to an alliance with the former allies of the NDA like the DMK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the party cherished its “old friends” and its doors are always open to those parties.
In a reply to a question from a party member on how to clear the air on rumours that BJP might ally with AIADMK, actor Rajnikanth or even the DMK in Tamil Nadu, Modi stressed that the BJP had always followed the path that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had shown them.

Interacting with party members in Arakkonam, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu through tele-conferencing as part of “My booth is a strong booth,” Modi said: “A strong NDA is an article of faith for us.”

“It is not a compulsion. Even when the BJP won a majority on its own, we prefer to run the government with our allies. We cherish our old friends and our doors are always open for parties,” he said

Modi, however, said that more than all the political issues, the winning alliance was an alliance with the people. “The strongest alliance is won with the common citizens,” he stated.

Modi took the party members down memory lane referring to Vajpayee’s new culture in Indian politics. “Twenty years ago, the visionary leader, Vajpayee, brought in a new culture in Indian politics that of successful coalition politics. He gave topmost importance to regional aspirations. He showed that the Centre and the States can work together for the welfare of our nation,” Modi stated.

However, the PM noted that this was in direct contrast to the Congress, which has never cared for regional aspirations.

Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “The Congress ill-treated regional political parties, regional aspirations and regional people because they felt they alone have the right to be in power. In one of their party meetings, they passed a resolution that they do not want alliance. Such was their arrogance.”

To a question on the state of India’s defence system at the end of the UPA regime and how the present government has improved the condition of soldiers, he said, “Many people think that the Congress’s biggest failure was in the mismanagement of the economy and their corruption. But they did deep damage to our armed forces too. However, as I keep saying, it is not just the party but it is the Congress culture that is most dangerous.”

Stating that the Congress culture was the “most dangerous”, he said, “In their government, defence procurement would only happen if there was a deal.”

He criticised the UPA government for failing to strengthen the defence system when the neighbouring countries had increased their capacities with fourth and fifth generation aircraft.