Removing misgivings on farmers’ issues, especially the “misinformation” on the NDA’s Land Acquisition Bill will be the focus area at the BJP’s national executive to be held at Bengaluru on April 2 and 3. Other than the Land Bill, farmers are faced with damage to the standing rabi crop and mounting arrears payable to sugarcane growers.
“ Hum dene aye hai, lene nahi ,” (we have come to give, not take away) will be the message of party chief Amit Shah to farmers in his presidential address, said a party leader. The Bill ensures “compensation, rehabilitation and jobs” for farmers whose land will be acquired unlike during the Congress regime when farmers were given “nothing”, he said. The Bill is hanging fire in the Rajya Sabha where the NDA is in a minority and the Opposition has united against the proposed legislation.
The provisions of the Land Bill are part of the NDA’s larger economic reforms agenda, which includes, among other aspects, the ambitious “Make in India” programme. India’s stand at the WTO on food security, harnessing inflation and higher GDP growth are the economic “achievements” that the party chief will flag.
Resolution on foreign policy There will a separate resolution on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy successes with SAARC, European countries and the United States. His efforts to give India a presence on the world stage will be highlighted.
The meeting, being held in Congress-ruled Karnataka, will also signal the party’s agenda to increase its strength and presence in the southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Besides becoming the world’s largest organisation with a membership of 9.05 crore, the party claims to have gained in raising its membership by five to six per cent in the seven States where the organisation is weak and which are the new thrust areas, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Tripura and Odisha. Bolstered by the successes, the membership drive has been extended by a month till April 30.
To discuss strategy for Assembly polls The meeting will also discuss strategies for Assembly elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where the BJP will have to reckon with the emerging Janata Parivar.
“Zero tolerance for corruption, development and good governance,” will remain the mantra for the party, the BJP leader said. “What the government has done so far in economic reforms, creation of jobs, provision of roads, power, irrigation and infrastructure are laying the foundation for future. Our successes in BJP-ruled States and the Gujarat model of governance are before the nation for us to be confident that we will deliver. The work has started.”
The Prime Minister will also address a rally on the occasion.
