As decided by the BJP’s parliamentary party on the last day of the Budget session last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all party MPs will undertake a day-long fast on Thursday to protest against the impasse in Parliament.
The Prime Minister will be in Delhi and will continue his daily official routine while fasting, and Mr. Shah will be leading a protest in Hubli-Dharwad in Karnataka, where the Assembly elections will be held on May 12.
Addressing BJP MPs on Friday, the day the fast was decided, Mr. Modi had accused the Opposition, particularly the Congress, of practising divisive politics.
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He will address all BJP MLAs (nearly 1,600) through an audio bridge on Wednesday explaining the reason for the fast. All BJP MPs will go on a fast in their respective constituencies.
A farce: Congress
The Congress, on Monday, held a symbolic fast on the issue of communal harmony. But the party faced a bit of a public relations disaster when riot accused former MPs Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar made an appearance at the fast, and senior Delhi Congress leaders were seen eating just before starting the programme.
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The party accused the government of wasting 250 hours of Parliament’s time and crores of taxpayers’ money to avoid answering questions on issues such as the banking scam, Dalit atrocities, Rafale deal, banking frauds and CBSE paper leaks.
“Instead of putting up an act and a farce, they should fast for repentance,’’ said Randeep Singh Surjewala, its chief spokesperson.