Political firebrands and thought leaders converged at “Manch 23”, their voices weaving a tapestry of debate and vision around nation building, strategies for the Lok Sabha battleground and the evolving terrain of politics shaped by new generations on the second day of the political conclave organised by ITV Network.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi and MoS, PMO, Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state BJP leaderships for the party’s victory in the Hindi heartland Assembly elections and shared the BJP’s resolve for a hat-trick in Lok Sabha polls. Alliance partners of I NDIA bloc came in the firing line of Smriti Irani, Union Women and Child Development minister, when she slammed their silence over the anti-Sanatan remarks made by one of the allies of the coalition. “They are silent as they have faith in “satta” (power) and not Sanatan,” she said.
Sharing his views on the upcoming battle in 2024, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the results in the just-concluded Assembly elections have set the tone for vote-for-change and this pattern will continue in the Lok Sabha election.
He mocked guarantees being offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said even the promises made by the BJP in 2019, including setting up smart cities, were also not fulfilled.
Yadav hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for worsening the welfare services in health, education and infrastructure sectors. The discussion surrounding UP also saw two kar sevaks, who were involved in the 1992 demolition of a structure, narrated the incidents of December 6 that year. VHP president Alok Kumar and BJP MP from Seekar Swami Sumaidhanan D. Saraswati talked about the upcoming Ram Temple and the infrastructure upgrade in Ayodhya.
Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Purushottam Rupala shared the changing landscape of the animal husbandry sector due to the PM’s decisions. “Our dairy export potential is looking up ever since the PM approved a Rs 13,000 crore vaccination plan for cattle,” he said, adding that 4,000-plus proposed animal ambulances are also a brainchild of Modi. Rupala said that the recent controversy kicked up by a DMK leader over north-south divide by calling the Hindi heartland states as ‘Gaumutra’ states. “If political attacks have to be made, then the Opposition should be more direct and not bring ‘gau mata’ in the matter,” he said.
He also highlighted the politics of development popularized by the PM and said he has given a model of performance and sharing achievements with voters for electoral success. The members of the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation last month also shared the experience of saving 41 lives and how their act made them national heroes. They also narrated the emotions that they experienced during the dangerous operation. ITV Network also presented a special award to seven members of the rescue team.
The award was given to them by Devusingh Chauhan, MoS, Communication. Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh also hailed the leadership shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 400-hour-long ordeal and the collective success achieved by the resilience of the nation.
Chirag Paswan, chief of LJP (R), expressed confidence in seat sharing for LS seats among NDA constituents. He also predicted a mid-term election in Bihar saying many leaders of the JD(U) are unhappy with the way their party chief is destroying the party and conceding ground to RJD.
Syed Naseer Hussain, Congress RS MP from Karnataka, expressed shock over the BJP and Modi copying their guarantees from what the Congress offered in Karnataka.