'Explain govt's tough economic steps to people'

BJP stalwart L K Advani tells party MPs at Surajkund workshop that Antony has vindicated BJP's view on secularism

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch L K Advani on Sunday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the spectacular victory of the National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, likening him to the captain of a cricket team who scored a triple century on debut.

Advani, addressing BJP's newly elected MPs at the two-day training workshop in Surajkund in Haryana, implored them to ensure BJP remains in power for the next 10 years, be good ambassadors of Modi and his government's policies and explain to the people the government's need to take hard economic decisions for better days ahead. Advani pointed at Congress leader A K Antony's statement that the Congress needs to review its policy on secularism as vindication of what BJP has been saying on the issue for years. Advani had after the declaration of election results said there were reasons other than Modi's appeal that contributed to BJP's massive victory. However, on Sunday Advani was effusive in his praise for Modi at the workshop.

The workshop that the PM inaugurated on Saturday concluded with Advani's speech on Sunday. Apart from Advani, senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Soni and minister for information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, addressed the MPs.

According to sources, Javadekar said the government planned to bring out a monthly magazine soon to showcase its achievements. Soni advised MPs to be a link between the party organisation, RSS and the government and adhere to the Sangh ideology. Some speakers advised MPs on rules of engagement with mainstream and social media and how not to fall victim to sting operations.

But it was the address by Advani that enthralled the 180-odd Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. Kudos to Narendra Modi for a "triple century" on debut, Advani said. And what was more, he said, was that the PM himself was a first-time MP.

"In Test cricket, we have heard of players who score a century or a double century on their debut. But I do not know of any batsman who becomes a captain in the very first test he plays and scores a triple century,_ Advani said. He said RSS workers along with those of BJP strove with single-minded determination for this victory.From day one you should work towards becoming second-time MPs in order to bring BJP back in power again in 2019," Advani said, asking MPs to be in touch with the party organisation and their constituencies so that BJP remains in power for the next 10 years.

Modi in Sriharikota
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Sriharikota space station on Sunday to witness the launch of ISRO's PSLV-C23, scheduled to take off from the spaceport on Monday morning.

Modi will witness the launch of PSLV-C23 carrying five foreign satellites.

PSLV-C23 is scheduled to lift off at 9.52 am on Monday with 714-kg French earth observation satellite Spot-7, 14-kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) & NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada, each weighing 15 kg and the 7-kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.