Updated
Bengaluru, Apr 3 (PTI): Attacking the Congress-led opposition for "deliberately spreading misgivings" about land bill, BJP today said the party should stop finding "non- existing" faults with the government and instead concentrate on finding its leader, a dig at Rahul Gandhi's absence.
In his inaugural address at the two-day BJP National Executive meeting, party president Amit Shah sought to rally the rank and file around the controversial bill, saying it was pro-farmer and BJP was committed to the welfare of peasants.
"Opposition has deliberately spread many misgivings about the bill which is in the interest of farmers. We will take the message to farmers. BJP is friend of farmers.It is farmers who have given us mandate.
"Opposition is desperate, hopeless and directionless.They should stop finding those faults and shortcomings which do not exist.If they have to find something, then they should try to find their leader.
"Instead of raising non-issues and fictional issues, they should find out where their leader is," Shah said, taking a dig at the Congress over the absence of its Vice-President who is on a sabbatical for introspection.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, party patriarch L K Advani were on the dais as Shah addressed the delegates, which included 111 National Executive members besides a number of special invitees, including chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states and its state presidents.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar told media persons that the BJP President attacked Congress for fuelling "confusion" over the bill and accused it of "looting" farmers for the last 60 years by using the antiquated British law before it was replaced with The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
"They looted the farmers for 60 years using a law brought by the British. With what face now do they talk about the interest of farmers," Javadekar said, quoting Shah's speech.
Emphasising on the BJP government's commitment to farmers, Shah said it fought for their interest in the WTO to ensure that they continue to enjoy Minimum Support Price fixed by the Centre and alleged that the previous UPA regime had agreed to stop giving MSP after 2016.
"We fought against it and ensured that the WTO agreed to it," he said.
BJP to rule India 10-20 years: Shah
Bengaluru, Apr 3 (IANS): The BJP will rule India for the next 10-20 years, party president Amit Shah announced on Friday.
"This government has arrived... The BJP will be in power for the next 10-20 years," party leader Prakash Javadekar quoted Shah as saying at the start of the two-day national executive meeting here.
Shah listed out the achievements of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the past 10 months on various fronts, including economy and foreign policy.
He said the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had brought an end to the policy paralysis that marked the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"We have brought a new political culture, and an end to the era of policy paralysis," Shah said.
Earlier Report
Bengaluru: Modi-'signed' fake cheques are props for Congress protest
Bengaluru, Apr 3 (NDTV): Congress activists today protested with fake cheques as the ruling BJP began a two-day leadership meet in Bengaluru today.
Hundreds of youth Congress workers held up cheques worth Rs. 15 lakh made out to "Every citizen of India", as they targeted the BJP on black money.
The cheques, showed as "signed" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, derided his promise to bring back crores in untaxed or black money illegally stashed in foreign bank accounts.
A large number of police personnel tried to stop the protesters gathered outside the venue of the BJP meet.
PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and several other senior leaders are attending the national executive meeting, where the party's strategy for expansion and state polls will be discussed.
The Congress has accused the ruling party of reneging on the promises it made during the national election last year.
BJP keen to spread wings, meets in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 3 (IANS): Riding high on becoming the world's largest political party, the BJP's national executive committee began its meeting here on Friday to take stock of its 10-month rule at the Centre and chalk out strategies to spread its wings across the country.
As it was the executive's first meeting after the BJP rode to power with an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, bonhomie and an upbeat mood marked the inaugural session at a star hotel in the city centre amidst tight security.
Party patriarch L.K. Advani shared the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
As the hosts for the two-day meet, the party's Karnataka unit leaders honoured Advani, Modi, Shah and Jaitley in the local style by crowning them with the famous Mysore petha (headgear), draping a shawl, garlanding and gifting a basket of fresh fruits.
After Modi inaugurated the meeting by lighting a lamp with the other three leaders on the dais, Shah addressed the party's 330-strong executive members.
The meet was not open to the media. According to party sources, Shah began his hour-long address in chaste Hindi by praising Modi for providing a corruption-free NDA government at the Centre since May 2014.
Listing out the achievements of the party and the government over the past 10 months on various fronts, including politics, economy and foreign policy, Shah claimed that ever since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power, the country got a stable government after many years and the economy has been revived.
"The economy is looking up and prices have been brought under control as evident from decline in inflation. A number of policy initiatives and administrative measures have been taken to revive growth and improve infrastructure," Shah asserted.
The meeting will deliberate over various issues, including the controversial land acquisition bill which was stalled by the opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA lacks majority.
The executive will also draw an action plan to expand the party's footprint in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and the north-east region where its presence is minimal.
"The meeting will also work out on strategies to capture power in Bihar where elections to its state assembly are due later this year," a party source said.