Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) â€“ USA organized a community outreach program in Edison, NJ on Sunday Aug 23 with Shri GVL Narasimha Rao, National Spokesperson of BJP as a chief guest. Shri Narasimha Rao is well known sephologist and a member of the BJP National Executive. He is widely known for providing in-depth election analysis, writing columns in national and international media, and excellent debating skills.

Addressing the community, Shri Rao said that the country has seen a sea change in governance ever since Narendra Modi became the prime minister of India. He cited examples of falling prices, low inflation, transparency, and fast decision-making capability resulting in the elimination of policy paralysis and accruing two lakh crore rupees to the exchequer of the government of India from auctioning coal blocks to competitive bidders. He quoted world financial agencies and analysts who have predicted tremendous growth rate for India surpassing China in the near future.

Apart from the developmental programs of Modiâ€™s government such as â€œDigital Indiaâ€, and â€œMake in Indiaâ€; social programs like â€œSwatch Bharatâ€, and â€œBeti Bachao, Beti Padaoâ€ have been executed to bring true development of India. While elaborating some of the social programs of Modi government, he said that large part of the mainstream media has never highlighted the accidental death insurance of two lakh rupees for just 12 Rs. a year and an additional 2-lakh life insurance policy for one rupee a day that brought financial security to millions of poor families across India. He also talked about â€œJan Dhan Yojanaâ€ a program that gave poor people access to the banking facility and 15 crore accounts have been added within a very short period.

Shri Rao ridiculed the stalling tactics of main opposition Congress party and leftist parties in the parliament as they ensured the washout of the recent session without passing any crucial bills that are key for the economic development. He said that it was unfortunate that some of the mainstream media chose to provide the Congress party a platform to promote its lies and false propaganda. Nevertheless, the results of the recent local body elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where BJP gained massive victories should be a revelation to the Congress Party as they tried to make a huge issue out of non-issues like â€œVyapamâ€ and â€œLalit Modiâ€ in their desperation to malign the Modi government. Shri Narendra Modi, has elevated Indiaâ€™s stature globally and he became a statesman on the world forum, he added. Shri Rao lauded the efforts of Indian Diaspora during last yearâ€™s parliament elections and thanked them for their wholehearted active participation and support for BJP.

Shri Narasimha Rao later answered several questions from the audience. On a question related to biased media in India, he said that Indian media should refrain from providing platform to individuals who go against the national interests. He compared the US media that regulates itself when it comes to issue of national security. He cited some examples of 26/11 Mumbai and recent terror attacks in other parts of the country wherein the channels were competing with each other when the anti-terror operations were going on. On the land bill he said that the propaganda machine of the opposition had created a wrong impression in the minds of farmers but reiterated that the government is not going to take an inch of land for private investors and whatever will be acquired will be for the projects like defense, irrigation, rural electrification, housing etc. which will benefit the poor and farmers eventually.

Earlier, Shri Jayesh Patel (Past President, OFBJP) welcomed the audience and highlighted the contributions made by the volunteers who were involved in phone campaign during the parliament and state elections in India and also provide a platform to visiting dignitaries and ministers from India so that the India Diaspora gets firsthand information from them. OFBJP is in the forefront of working for NRIs and diaspora issues and tries to promote the good work being done by Modi government among the elected representatives here in US.

The program started with traditional lamp lighting ceremony followed by the rendition of Vandemataram led by Mrs. Kalpana Shukla. Shri Krishna Reddy (Treasurer, OFBJP) introduced the honorable chief guest and Shri Ram Kamath presented vote of thanks and recognized several community leaders and media delegates who covered the event. Shri R.P. Singh (Org. Secretary, OFBJP) and other office bearers have helped organize the event. Everyone enjoyed a tasteful lunch after the event.

GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP national spokesperson, in New Jersey