BJP means people first, instead of family first, PM Modi at Meghalaya rally

PM Modi said the ‘lotus’, the BJP symbol, will bloom in Meghalaya as the party always prioritised the well-being of its people

Updated on: Feb 24, 2023, 18:57:58 IST

By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a swipe at the Congress and the ruling National Peoples’ Party (NPP) in Meghalaya, saying that Meghalaya needs a “people’s first” government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rather than a “family first” government.

PM Modi, who had earlier taken part in a road show in Shillong, said he was overwhelmed by the love and support shown by the people of Meghalaya.

“I have got a lot of love and blessing from you and I won’t let that go to waste. I will repay this debt by developing Meghalaya and speeding up projects for your welfare,” PM Modi told an election meeting in Shillong after a roadshow.

PM Modi, who addressed a rally in Nagaland’s Dimapur earlier in the day, will address another election meeting in Meghalaya’s Tura about 300km from state capital Shillong.

Both Meghalaya and Nagaland go to polls on February 27.

“Meghalaya wants a stable and strong government under a strong party. Instead of those who promote family first, we will give you a government, which keeps people first,” PM Modi said.

The BJP contested 47 assembly seats in 2018 but won only two assembly segments – Pynthorumkhrah (Alexander Laloo Hek) and South Shillong (Sanbor Shullai), who was a cabinet minister in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. This time, the BJP has fielded candidates on all 60 seats and hopes to emerge as the single largest party.

Without naming Congress, PM Modi said people who have been discarded by the nation want him dead but the masses want Modi’s lotus (BJP symbol) to bloom.

“People of Meghalaya and Nagaland will give a befitting reply to such people. Everywhere in hills and plains and towns and villages of Meghalaya, everyone is saying BJP will form the next government,” said Modi.

The prime minister accused previous governments in the state of focusing on greed instead than developing Meghalaya. “But things have changed for the better after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014 and took initiatives to develop Meghalaya and the rest of the northeastern region,” he said.

“If there’s a BJP government in Meghalaya then it will be easier for me to serve you better,” Modi added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.