On the evening of Thursday 30th May 2013 Shri Narendra Modi attended Yuva Shakti Sammelan in Ahmedabad where 5000 workers previously associated with the Congress and Congress-backed organizations, Youth Congress and National Students Union of India (NSUI) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Shri Modi extended a warm welcome to the youngsters and said that the BJP is not merely a membership driven party but a relationship driven party. “Our relation, your relation with the party is not about the Rs. 5 membership but we are all members of one family. The same right that I have over this family, you also have,” the Chief Minister said to the youngsters.
Shri Modi spoke about the uniqueness of a party such as the BJP and said that today he remembered former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “Today we remember Atal ji. He became the Prime Minister of India but he was the son of an ordinary schoolteacher. This is the BJP’s culture, the party’s faith in democracy but if such an individual was in the Congress would he ever get a chance?” asked Shri Modi. He added that society accepts those who live for society and stated that in a party like the BJP the person’s background does not matter. “Your background, if your father was in politics, it does not matter. Everyone has the right to realize his or her dreams in a democracy,” avowed the Chief Minister.
Taking a dig at the Centre’s public relations campaign Shri Modi said, “A few days back I got a mail that referred to the ads the Government of India has released. In the mail it said, ‘Shaq hai mera’ (it is my suspicion) (instead of the ‘Haq hai mera in the Government ads). Is there any trust left? Congressmen have no trust in their leader too. Even in Chhattisgarh they are speaking in two different languages.” He declared that there is complete mistrust in the minds of the people towards the Centre and that the mistrust is such that the people will not accept anything the Central Government does. “
Referring to the youngsters who joined the BJP today, Shri Modi affirmed, “This decision that you have taken is no small decision. For years, since your student days you gave your life to a party, even withstood police lathis. Yet, you have had to leave that party. I can imagine the pain. My first duty is to heal the wounds.” Talking about what how the Congress will react on so many of its former leaders joining the BJP, Shri Modi pointed, “The same Congress for which you did so much, what will they do to you now? They will say Congress is now pure!” He assured the youngsters that the hardwork they did for so many years would not go in vain. He added that for so many youngsters to join the BJP even when no elections are approaching is a very big thing.
Shri Modi affirmed, “Our dream is that Gujarat must shine and scale new heights of development.” He categorically informed the Congress, “Congress leaders should read the writing on the wall- you will not win the nation through the CBI. People gave you the mandate to serve them, do not focus on jailing opponents.” The Chief Minister said that he is well aware of the games played by the Congress and expressed confidence that the BJP would win in the upcoming by-elections in various parts of Gujarat. “People will reject your anti-democratic politics,” he affirmed, referring to the Congress and said that is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, who forced the English to leave India.
Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narhari Amin stated that Shri Narendra Modi is a leader who has inspired the youth. He also pointed that youth leaders from NSUI and Youth Congress are joining the BJP and placing their trust on Shri Modi. He shared that in the last 12 years the BJP Government has been working for all sections of the society.
The Congress Party and their false claims of becoming the voice of the youth came in for severe criticism by erstwhile leaders of the Congress. Mr. Prakash Gurjar, who was previously a youth leader with the Congress told the youngsters gathered that they are now joining a party that rejects dynasty politics. “You all fought NSUI elections but Congress only rewarded children of political families,” he said. Another youth leader pointed that for over six years Shri Rahul Gandhi showed them false dreams. “Dynasty politics is entrenched in the Congress. I am a common youth…Congress will never accept me. Rahul Gandhi never even met me,” he went on to say.
Youth leader Pradipsinh of BJYM and MLA Ms. Poonamben Madam were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
