The Non-Resident Indians have never missed a chance to do their bit in Indian politics and this time they have come out in support of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
The United Kingdom-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Friends of Indian Society, has teamed with NRIs to launch a video campaign ‘Ek Call Desh Ke Naam’ in support of PM Modi.
According to The Indian Express, the campaign was launched last week by Indian origin members living outside the country.
Under the ‘Ek Call Desh Ke Naam’ campaign, NRIs would record short video messages in support of Prime Minister in the backdrop of famous monuments or destinations abroad. The campaign aims to garner maximum support for Modi ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
Ahead of the general elections in India, the group drew up a plan to come up with 50,000 videos on a wide range of subjects, including the recently passed interim budget to economic policies. However, corruption and terrorism are attracting the most interest, The Indian Express reported.
UK-based Santosh Gupta, assistant general secretary of the NGO, has decided to stay on in India for the next four months and take the campaign forward. In 2014, Gupta had been associated with the ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ movement in India.
“We are not against any political party or leaders. In the past, we had reciprocated with the same warmth towards our former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhji when he came to the UK. Our concern is a strong India… We want to share our views with India on how the world sees India,” Gupta told The Indian Express.
Arun Chaubey, a resident of Switzerland, in his video message, said: “I have joined the campaign for three reasons. In the last five years, there have been negligible terror attacks and whenever enemies had tried to attack, India has given a befitting reply. Secondly, the passage of the anti-triple talaq bill and thirdly, I believe India has emerged as a strong nation.”
Chaubey also quoted noted poet Maithili Sharan Gupt, “jo bhara nahi hain bhavo se, jis mein behti rasdhara nahi, weh hriday nahi hain patthar hain, jis mein swadesh ka pyar nahi (a heart devoid of emotions and affection for one’s motherland is like a stone).”
Shweta Bhatia, from London, said in a video, “My support for the campaign is for greater transparency and accountability initiatives taken in the last five years. The fight is against corruption.”
In the meantime, as the nation is preparing for Lok Sabha elections, political parties have intensified their campaign across the country.
Several rallies by party leaders including PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi have been organized and hundreds are planned in the approaching days. In the 2014 elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thronged to power with an absolute majority and Congress was reduced to two-digit tally in the lower house.
-Sowmya
