New Delhi: Spelling out what is set to be the Bharatiya Janata Party’s counter to the Opposition’s demand for a caste census ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday while addressing workers at the party headquarters after the BJP registered wins in three states said that, for him there are only four castes that matter. He also said that in the BJP’s win, it shows that ‘honesty and good governance’ has won.
“I kept saying that for me, four castes are important – nari shakti (women empowerment), yuva shakti (youth empowerment), kisaan (farmers) and gareeb parivaar (poor families). There were many efforts to divide the country based on castes,” Modi said. “Today, every poor person, farmer and tribal is saying that they have won this election.”
At the party headquarters, where he carried out a roadshow to celebrate the party’s victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Modi also sought to thank the women voters for endorsing the BJP. “I want to thank women. Nari Shakti has decided that the lotus will bloom. During the rallies, I used to say that women would wave the flags of the BJP high. Today, the women’s reservation bill has built new trust among women,” he said.
Modi also said that during these elections, he broke one of his long standing rules. “This time, in the elections, I broke the rule of making predictions. In Rajasthan, I predicted that Congress won’t return to power,” Modi said.
As he rose to spoke, Modi was welcomed to chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ by party workers. In response, he said, “Awaaz Telangana tak pohonchni chahiye (Your voices should reach Telangana).” Modi also thanked party workers and voters in Telangana, the only state where the party did not win. “BJP’s graph is increasing in the state after every election. I promise the people of Telangana that BJP won’t leave any stone unturned for their development,” Modi said.
Published 03 December 2023, 22:48 IST