Key Highlights of National Executive
A key highlight of the meeting will be the presence of the party's all-elected lawmakers – close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs, and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states, among others.
More than 2,000 delegates will attend the meet, which has been described by senior party leaders as an “extended national executive” to mark the end of a year-long exercise to commemorate Upadhyaya’s 100th birth anniversary.
Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address, may use the opportunity to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions.
With the Opposition attacking the government's handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP and the failure of demonetisation, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources said.
PM Modi Promises Electricity for Free to BPL Families
Announcing the ‘Sahaj bijli har ghar’ or ‘Saubhagya Yojana’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to bring electricity into BPL (below poverty line) households in the country, free of cost. He also added that the government will voluntarily approach these households and provide them with basic electricity.
He said that close to Rs 16,000 crore will be pumped into this scheme.
This Rs 16,000 crore will bring light into all the households of the country.
Adding that close to 3,000 households were yet to be provided with electricity, Modi said that his government would strive towards ensuring that all BPL households, whether rural or urban.
Elaborating on the country’s power and energy situation, Modi pushed for a ‘Clean India’, adding that India had transformed into innovators in the field of renewable energy.
We are slowly moving towards a one nation- one grid- one price policy.
Watch: PM Modi Launches ‘Saubhagya Yojana’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Saubhagya yojana', a rural electrification scheme, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Urja Bhavan.
The scheme aims at rural electrification for all, and promises electrification to BPL households without charging any fees i.e. free of cost. Speaking at the launch, RK Singh, Minister of Power, said that the scheme aims at completing 100% electrification by December 2018.
The scheme provides for an LED bulb and a mobile charging point, along with a prepaid meter.
PM Modi to Launch 'Saubhagya Yojana'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to launch a rural electrification scheme ‘Saubhagya Yojana’ at 6.30 pm today.
"Dip in Economy Only in Last 3 Months": Arun Jaitley
Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley briefed the media on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the BJP’s national executive meet, addressing a range of issues.
Highlighting the government’s programmes over the past three years, Jaitley said that the PM insisted on taking politics beyond election, and towards the welfare of people.
Democracy should be taken beyond elections and include mass participation to improve quality of life for people.
Speaking on the party’s welfare programmes, specifically towards in rural areas, Jaitley said the PM had asked BJP workers to visit villages to provide solutions towards doubling farmer incomes by 2022. He added that PM Modi is expected to announce a welfare scheme at 6.30 pm.
Jaitley said that the PM also spoke against the usage of ‘harsh language’ by the Opposition, while leveling accusations against the government.
Harsh language cannot be a substitute for any substantive charge against the government.
On corruption, Modi is to have said,
My battle against corruption is uncompromising, and no one will be spared. I have no relatives when it comes to corruption.
When questioned about the country’s economic slowdown, Jaitley said that the dip was only in the last three months.