NDA dinner meetings cancelled to express solidarity with flood victims’: Kiren Rijiju
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that the planned dinner meetings of NDA MPs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president J.P. Nadda have been cancelled in solidarity with lakhs of people affected by the severe flooding across Punjab and other parts of northern India.
“We are passing through a very sensitive time when millions of people are suffering due to floods in Punjab and several other northern states. In such a situation, we cannot organise dinner parties. Therefore, the dinner to hosted by our respected Prime Minister for NDA MPs has been cancelled. Likewise, the one planned by J.P. Nadda for BJP MPs has also been called off,” Kiren Rijiju told IANS .
He added that the decision reflects the party leadership’s sense of responsibility.
“At a time of such severe flooding, it is not right to hold grand dinners,” he said.
Mr Rijiju clarified that the BJP’s ongoing workshop for its MPs in Delhi would continue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend from start to finish.
“This is the BJP’s culture — whether a leader or a common worker, all are the same. There is no formal seating arrangement, and the Prime Minister himself often sits in the back row. Our programme is more about guidance than formality,” he noted.
His remarks came hours after PM Modi was seen at the last row in Sunday’s meeting, where all the BJP parliamentarians were present.
On whether NDA allies will attend the Prime Minister’s session, Mr Rijiju confirmed their participation.
“Tomorrow all NDA MPs will also be present. And of course, the Prime Minister will guide us. Ultimately, we move forward after listening to him,” he said.