BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi (File pic)
New Delhi:
The BJP has launched its "chai par charcha" or "discussion over tea" campaign, a mega outreach programme named to highlight that its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi sold tea on trains as a young boy.
Mr Modi will hold the first session on February 12. The idea is to "share, ask, suggest," said senior leader Sushma Swaraj, adding that her party aims to reach two crore people with this campaign through the internet, on mobile phones and social media.
She emphasised that the hi-tech tea party was not designed for the "techno-savvy" only. Anyone who has a thought to share, a question to ask or a suggestion to make could do so during the interactions, she said.
The BJP has planned 10 sessions to reach people at a 1000 locations in 300 cities, but, Ms Swaraj said, they would squeeze in some more rounds if there is time. Other BJP leaders will chip in too.
She denied that logistics had held up the programme, first announced in January soon after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar made a comment on Mr Modi's modest origin as a tea boy, a remark that was hugely criticised and was disowned by the Congress.
"I thought it would be auspicious to begin on Basant Panchami," Ms Swaraj explained, stressing that the campaign would begin on February 12 as planned.
Mr Modi will hold the first session on February 12. The idea is to "share, ask, suggest," said senior leader Sushma Swaraj, adding that her party aims to reach two crore people with this campaign through the internet, on mobile phones and social media.
She emphasised that the hi-tech tea party was not designed for the "techno-savvy" only. Anyone who has a thought to share, a question to ask or a suggestion to make could do so during the interactions, she said.
The BJP has planned 10 sessions to reach people at a 1000 locations in 300 cities, but, Ms Swaraj said, they would squeeze in some more rounds if there is time. Other BJP leaders will chip in too.
She denied that logistics had held up the programme, first announced in January soon after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar made a comment on Mr Modi's modest origin as a tea boy, a remark that was hugely criticised and was disowned by the Congress.
"I thought it would be auspicious to begin on Basant Panchami," Ms Swaraj explained, stressing that the campaign would begin on February 12 as planned.
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