KANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that in recent times, the trend of keeping ideology or political interests above the interests of the society and the country has started, but it should not go against the country.
Accusing the opposition of obstructing development works, he said: "Many times, the opposition parties put some obstacles in the government's work as they could not implement the decisions taken by them when they were in power." The PM was addressing virtually a programme on the 10th death anniversary of former Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Chaudhary Harmohan Singh Yadav.
"Some people have started opposing the country by opposing the party and the individual because of ideology. It is the responsibility of every political party that opposing a party or an individual should not turn against the country," he said. "Ideologies have their place and they should be there. Also, there may be political ambitions, but society is first and country is first."
Country bigger than party as parties exist because of democracy, says Modi
The PM said a party was bigger than an individual and a country bigger than a party as the existence of parties was because of democracy and the existence of democracy was because of the country. "Most of the parties in our country, especially all the non-Congress parties, have carried this idea to the ideal of cooperation and coordination for the country," he added.
Citing examples, the PM said that when the India-Pakistan wars happened, all the major parties stood with the government. "Even when the country conducted the first nuclear test, all the major parties stood by the side of the government. But when the country's democracy was crushed at the time of the Emergency, then we all fought together to save democracy," he said.
The PM said socialism was not a matter of dispute. Hailing socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, he said: "Society is our moral, culture and nature. Lohia ji used to talk about social culture... started the Ramayan Lila. He had envisioned protecting Ganga and Yamuna years ago. Today, his dream is being fulfilled through Namami Gange." He said the thoughts of Lohia were carried forward by Harmohan Singh Yadav from the soil of Uttar Pradesh and Kanpur in his long political life. "Harmohan Singh Yadav ji not only took a political stand against the Sikh massacre, but also came forward and fought to protect the Sikh brothers and sisters while risking his own life," he said. Harmohan Singh Yadav was awarded Shaurya Chakra for display of valour in protecting the lives of several Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The PM's virtual address is being seen by political analysts as a significant move to make an outreach to the Yadavs, the caste which so far has not been part of BJP's caste bouquet. Analysts say that this has been one of BJP's concerns that despite expanding its caste base considerably, the party has not managed to bring Yadavs - which comprise around 9% of total population in UP - Rajbhars, Nishads and, to a certain extent, Patels, to its fold.
