Party workers are like mother, they should not feel slighted: Modi tells BJP MPs

NEW DELHI: Underlining that the BJP's ideology and thoughts brought it to its current position and not the legacy of any family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked party lawmakers on Saturday to remain connected with party workers and not forget their contribution in making them MPs and ministers.

Addressing more than 380 party MPs of both Houses of Parliament during a two-day training programme, the prime minister likened the party and its workers to a mother who nurtures a son, but feels a bit neglected when he gets married and pays more attention to his wife. So once they become MPs, they should not forget the party and the workers. They should remain connected with the workers who have toiled for them, and not just in election time, Modi was quoted as saying by lawmakers who attended the session.

Modi credited BJP workers and their hard work for the party's ascendancy. "Modi described BJP as a family and categorically told party MPs that it is growing because of its ideology and thoughts and not because of the legacy of a family," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said. "The team BJP is an organic entity and not an assembled entity," Modi told the meeting.

Joshi said that Modi highlighted the importance of the organisational strength while talking about the party's impressive victory in Tripura's local elections. The prime minister inaugurated the training programme, 'Abhyas Varga', at Parliament House complex and recalled his experience of attending a similar event in Surajkund. Modi said it was of great help to him, Joshi added. The prime minister also stressed the importance of learning and said it should continue whatever the age of an individual is. "Modi said whatever our age is, we should remain students and keep learning. Learning is a continuous process and it is essential," Joshi said.

Besides Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and working president J P Nadda addressed the inaugural session.