In personalised letters to BJP candidates in constituencies that will vote in the third phase of the elections on May 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged them to increase awareness among voters about the “divisive” and “discriminatory” intention of the Congress and its INDIA bloc partners to “snatch” the SC, ST and OBC reservation and give it to “their vote bank” even though granting “reservation on religious grounds is unconstitutional”.
In a speech in Banswara, Rajasthan, on April 21, Modi, referring to Muslims, had said that the Congress, if voted to power, could distribute the nation’s wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”.
In his letter, Modi maintained that this was not a “usual” election, that it was important for the future of the country and to rid people of the “pains” inflicted by decades of Congress rule.
He said the election was important for the vision of a developed India by 2047, and there was enthusiasm for this among the people.
“I am aware of the problems being faced by people due to the heat. But since this election is important for the future of the country, I appeal to them to cast their vote early in the morning, before the heat rises,” he said.
“It is important that our party workers encourage voters to come out and vote in large numbers. They should focus on winning their booths. To win a Parliamentary seat, it is necessary that we should try to win in every booth,” the letter stated.
The letter begins by saying something specific about the candidate it is addressed to while the election message in each is identical.
Modi ends the letter by saying “meri or se sabhi matdataon ko aap guarantee dena ki Modi ka pal pal deshwasiyon ke naam hai” (On my behalf, give a guarantee to all voters that each moment of Modi’s life is dedicated to the people of the country). And just above his signature is a punchline: ‘Modi ki guarantee hai 24×7 for 2047’.
Sources in the BJP said candidates received such messages even in the earlier two phases and the messages will continue to go out as the election progresses.