PM Narendra Modi briefed lawmakers on the Tiranga Yatra at a party meeting yesterday.
Highlights
- BJP MPs ordered to ride two-wheelers for Tiranga Yatra
- MPs to wear tricolor helmets and hold up eight-feet-long flags
- They must post 500 photos on Facebook as proof of participation
The BJP's parliamentarians have been ordered to ditch cars and ride two-wheelers for a Tiranga Yatra in their constituencies to celebrate 70 years of Independence. The rule applies to both men and women.
The instruction sheet on the yatra is detailed. The leaders will wear helmets painted saffron, white and green and will hold up eight-feet-long flags through the journey.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who briefed MPs on the yatra at a party meeting yesterday, is annoyed that most of them did not file reports on another special initiative earlier this year and so this time wants detailed reports of their activities during the yatra. Filed online, everyday.
And they must post 500 to 1000 photos each on Facebook as proof of their participation.
"The idea is to strike a chord with the common people. That can't be done driving in cars. The motor cycle symbolises the aam aadmi," said Rajya Sabha MP Bhupendra Yadav.
In huddled discussions after the meeting, MPs found solutions to problems they foresee. "I don't know how to ride a bike, so I will ride pillion," said Hari Bhai Choudhry, junior minister for home, giving a thumbs up to the two-wheeler yatra plan.
Labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya, listening intently, nodded and said, "I will also find someone to drive me around."
"It's a difficult situation for women MPs. We will have to find someone reliable to move around on bikes," said a woman lawmaker who is clearly not in the league of Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan who recently pulled up in Parliament House on a Harley Davidson.
Preps for the programme is the easier part. Many MPs are getting cold feet at having to file daily reports online. BJP bosses advised them to ask family members or assistants to help. Not filing is not an option, they were warned.
The Tiranga Yatras will be held from August 15 to 23. In other programmes, 75 ministers will visit 150 places associated with the freedom struggle and seven women ministers will visit the country's borders to tie rakhis on soldiers deployed there.
PM Modi flagged off celebrations on Tuesday from the home of freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad in Madhya Pradesh.