NEW DELHI: The
BJP has issued a booklet with talking points to all its spokespersons and members, which focusses on the importance of the “timely lockdown” announced by
PM Narendra Modi on March 22 that “saved thousands of lives, putting India in a better place than many other countries in the west”, and on how the government succeeded in “helping hundreds of
migrants get home via trains”.
The note details the steps taken by the government to reassure migrant workers and the new rules to bring in self-reliance with focus on swadeshi goods.
Last week, former
Congress president
Rahul Gandhi had criticised the full lockdown, calling it damaging, whose “harmful implications would only increase exponentially”. Some other opposition parties had also criticised the government for neglecting the plight of migrants who had to walk long distances to reach their home states.
The BJP’s booklet is focussed on how Modi’s approach in handling Covid-19 was “pro-active and alert”. Efforts made by the government to reach out to migrants are an important part of this booklet, wherein it says it aided more than 52 lakh migrant workers to reach their home state by 3,840 special labour trains in 25 days.
The 23-page booklet has 21 points and five broad “facts” every spokesperson needs to put across and covers important government decisions, including the Citizenship Amendment Act, abolition of
Article 370 and the Ram temple verdict.
A BJP leader said the talking points will help members stay motivated and defend the decisions taken by the government with regard to the lockdown or economic relief, in the media and during their outreach sessions with voters.