Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a country-wide drive to get new members for his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party saying it is aimed at further connecting people from all walks of life with the saffron outfit. Launching the drive from his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Modi, addressing a gathering on the occasion, also talked about the budget 2019-20 presented yesterday and his thoughts on India's economic growth in the coming years. "From the soil of Kashi, I greet each dedicated worker of the party. Today, I got an opportunity to launch the BJP's membership campaign from Kashi," he said adding it will further strengthen the saffron party. The launch of the membership drive coincided with the 118th birth anniversary of the party's founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Referring to the budget, Modi said a ‘new India’ was on the threshold of racing ahead. He said, "It is important to know about the USD 5 trillion economy because some people were casting doubts over the competency of Indians.” The Prime Minister termed critics as ‘professional pessimists’. "There are certain people who are saying why government has set such a target (5 trillion dollar economy), what is the need, why all of this is being done? These people can be called professional pessimists," said Modi. "Professional pessimists are very different from common people. If you go to a common man with a problem, he will help you find a solution. But if you go to them for a solution, they will turn it into a threat," he added. Modi said developed countries had also passed through their own struggles to reach where they are today but it is India's time now. The PM said one of the methods of boosting the economy is to see farmers as wealth creators of the nation and not merely as food producers. "We are now looking at farmers as exporters. There is tremendous potential for our farmers to grow exponentially." All senior BJP leaders, including party President Amit Shah, Working President J P Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, joined Modi in separate events for the party’s membership drive. Modi paid tributes to Mookerjee, the Jana Sangh founder, on his 118th birth anniversary, saying his contribution to national integration will always be remembered. In a tweet, Modi described Mookerjee as a great educationist and a bright nationalist thinker.
