BJP only party that appreciates work of all PMs, irrespective of their party: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended the project to establish a museum at Teen Murti House celebrating the work of his predecessors in the high office on Tuesday. Addressing a meeting of BJP parliamentarians from both Houses, he said this is the only party which has the culture and large-heartedness to acknowledge the contribution of former Prime Ministers, irrespective of their party affiliation, towards nation-building.

The Prime Ministers’ Museum at Teen Murti House will be inaugurated on April 14. Modi said this date has been chosen for the event as it marks the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, a Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution.

BJP has the generosity and culture to give due acknowledgement to the contribution of previous Prime Ministers. “The Prime Minister said we are the only party which has acknowledged the contribution of former prime ministers, irrespective of the party they came from,” a BJP leader present in the meeting said, quoting Modi.

The project to build this museum has been in the thick of controversies as Congress had protested that Teen Murti House, which was the official residence of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and is virtually a memorial to him, is being converted into a place celebrating all PMs, diminishing his stature.

BJP, on the other hand, has accused the Congress of respecting only the work of the PMs belonging to the Nehru-Gandhi family, ignoring even the other prime ministers from the grand old party.

The museum will have sections dedicated to all previous prime ministers who have passed away.

Incidentally, the Prime Minister arrived at the BJP meeting before the scheduled time, taking many MPs who arrived after him by surprise.

At the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, the lawmakers were directed to observe April 6 to 14 as “Social Justice fortnight” in which they will reach out to the masses in their constituency and educate them about the welfare measures, especially for the Scheduled Caste, of the government. Free grains, affordable housing, nutrition and other schemes will be highlighted. The Covid vaccination drive for teenagers will also be stepped-up with the target of 7 Crore vaccinations.

A resolution was passed at the meeting applauding the Prime Minister for extending the free foodgrains scheme (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna) to 80 crore people for another six months till September 2022.

The PM also mentioned that social activist Jyotiba Phule’s birth anniversary falls on April 11 and should be given due importance.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed MPs that Prime Minister Modi will address the “Pariksha par Charcha” on April 1 for the benefit of thousands of students.