Steer public debate in favour of party, says Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah has written to his senior officials to take steps to steer public debate in favour of party positions, reports said on Thursday.

BJP president Amit Shah has written to his senior officials to take steps to steer public debate in favour of party positions, reports said on Thursday.

BJP president Amit Shah and three other senior party leaders were trapped inside a lift for around 40 minutes at the state guest house in Patna. (Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)

The Indian Express reported quoting unnamed party sources that the BJP leadership is "worried" about the "campaign" against it in the mainstream and social media and wanted the heads of various party committees to act on it.

Steer public debate towards a favourable direction, exert strong influence on social media, stay in constant touch with top editors and journalists, these are reportedly among the points in Shah's 12-page letter sent last month.

“The party should publicise the good work of its governments through research and documentation and negative news on the government policies and programs should be documented,” the report quoted from the letter.

Other reports on internal communication note said it elaborates on the need for research and documentation even at the local level, and for a sync between the party and its governments.

Shah's directive comes at a time the Narendra Modi government is facing flak for its handling of crucial issues like the land acquisition bill, the 'one rank one pension demand' of army veterans and the corruption allegations against three senior leaders.

The party does not want this criticism -- both in mainstream and social media -- to affect its chances in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.