Opposition should refrain from politicizing PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’: BJP

New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition for their criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, saying that they should refrain from politicisation and should contribute to it.

“Mann Ki Baat is not a political platform. Those political parties which constantly try to politicize it need to reflect that when it is not a political platform, then why make an attempt to do so,” BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI.

“The Prime Minister engages with the nation on this platform. He raises social issues, issues of national interest. He also sometimes announces and brings to the nation the issues raised by people themselves. So it has to be treated like that,” he added.

He asserted that the Mann Ki Baat programme is for the betterment of the country and everyone needs to contribute towards it and not politicize it.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the Opposition should not be opposing it just for the sake of opposition and therefore should refrain from politicizing it.

“The opposition must not politicize the voice of the guardian of the nation,” Patra told ANI.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi through his ‘Mann ki Baat’ has touched the hearts of millions of Indian today by his suggestion that the word ‘viklaang’ should be replaced by the word ‘divyaang’. We should all make a conscious effort to this end because this will be an extremely good beginning in the new year. And let’s take a pledge that we would show respect towards specially-abled people. I think the culmination of a year and beginning of a new year cannot be better than to accept the suggestion the Prime Minister had made through his ‘Maan ki Baat’ today,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi in his bi-monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, said his government will announce the action plan of his ambitious ‘Start-up India, Stand up India’ on January 16.

Modi also expressed satisfaction over the successful implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.

Modi further urged the nation to address the persons with disabilities as ‘divyaang’, meaning divine body, saying they are endowed with extraordinary power in certain other ways. (ANI)