Recommended: Narendra Modi’s address to BJP workers at ‘Kamalam’ (video)

Gandhinagar, 10 February 2014

Following is near-accurate verbatim of Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s address to party cadre after opening Gujarat BJP’s new headquarters ‘Kamalam’ near Gandhinagar.

When I was not into politics, I saw Jan Sangha workers in Gujarat from close distance. Nathabhai Zagda was Sangh Pracharak who was earlier into making of jewellery, and he later left his profession and started making humans. He was using bicycle. And at that time if you want to go to Sabarmati or Kaligam(in Ahmedabad), there were farms, river-bed etc on the way. At that time government was not friendly to us. One IB person was given duty to follow Nathabhai Zagda. Due to extensive cycling by Shri Zagda, IB person could follow him only for one day. IB man couldn’t follow Shri Zagda from second day onwards. Four generations have given sacrifice for this party. Many families have given sacrifice for this party. And then the party has achieved this position today.

It is unfortunate that public events are not reviewed neutrally, and political likings-unlikings play their role. Today our party is in good position, but there was a time when even saving deposit was difficult. Once Nathabhai was telling me that when Swatantrata party was formed in Gujarat, the people here had great anger against Congress due to MahaGujarat agitation, but people were feeling they had no alternate. Swatantrata Party was led by Bhaikaka and others. Jan Sangha leaders Vasantbhai Gajendragadkar and Nathabhai went to discuss seat sharing with Swatantrata Party. Bhaikaka in response told Vasantbhai Gajendragadkar and Nathabhai, whether they were thinking they will get votes by painting oil lamps on wall(oil lamp was Jan Sangh’s election symbol)? There was no seat sharing ultimately.

Once Jan Sangh decided to contest 100 seats(in Gujarat), and do you know how did we find 100 contestants? A co-passenger in bus was asked whether he would like to contest an election! One who had capacity to spend Rs. 250 for deposit was given ticket. Saving deposit money was important. Hardly one candidate would save his deposit out of 100, and feast of sweet was celebrated with that saved deposit money.

This spirit is still there in corners of this country. Yesterday I was in Kerala. We are sitting here, and therefore it’s difficult to imagine, but in Kerala, our party doesn’t enjoy victory. Yes nowadays we have Councillors there, but otherwise even winning Panchayat is difficult there. Our more than 250 workers have been killed there. Just imagine, getting elected is difficult, cadre is facing attack, and even after all this, our cadre spend life to keep ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ intact. Such lakhs of party men are treasure of this party.

And therefore I have a question in my mind, whether today somebody would be able to review correctly the sacrifice that has brought this party to this position?

We have a good opportunity today. Due to lacking of the type of leadership, the type of government this nation deserves, last ten years were worst in independent India. There’s proverb that everyone has his decade. So, this was a decade of barbadi which will end now. When Advaniji who is more experienced compared to me in public affairs, concludes after reviewing that there will be a change in 2014 as per the aspiration of people of this nation, it is very clear(what’s going to happen).

This election is not just election. Yes procedural-wise it can be just an election for the Election Commission. (But) for nation, this election is not just a part of democratic procedure. For people of this nation this election is something that would decide the next direction of this country, that would decide our future, that would decide the future of our next generation, that would decide standing of our nation in world. This election is not about who is candidate, and who is contesting against that particular candidate. It is not an issue of victory or defeat of a candidate. Winning or loosing(of candidate) is attached to India’s future. And therefore during this election, at every door-step one has to be asked, “are you agree with present situation of country? Don’t you think the situation of country has to be changed?” And I have full faith that common man will agree with what we say. Even if he has been traditionally a supporter of particular political party for last many years, he will agree.

I met one prominent leader associated with third front. He told me his family will vote for BJP. I asked we have no major presence in Orissa, but he said it again that his family is going to vote for BJP.

This means, this election will saw seed of Bhavaya Bharat, Divya Bharat. And it is our responsibility that this nation should not be allowed to be looted.

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Shri Modi spoke about a strategy that each party man should take responsibility of one-page of voters list. “I met a party worker who has laminated a page of voters list assigned to him and has decided to focus only on that page,” said Modi.