Be humble, visit constituencies, don't touch my feet: Modi to BJP MPs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday advised BJP MPs to remain humble and visit their constituencies regularly - and not touch his feet.

Party sources said Modi, who spoke to the Bharatiya Janata Party MPs Friday, asked them to remain connected to the grassroots and spread the message of the government.

He urged them not to touch his feet, eschew any sycophancy and work hard.

He also asked them to speak on a subject only after reading about it.

Sources said he told them to avoid controversies in the media and speak on an issue only after ascertaining the party line.

Party sources said Modi asked them not to let complacency set in. The sources said he told the MPs that they had greater responsibility as people had given the BJP a mandate to be in power.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Vekaiah Naidu said that Modi asked the party MPs to be humble.

"The PM has asked the BJP MPs to be humble, and he has also instructed them to visit their constituencies more often and be regular in (attending) parliament," he said.

Senior BJP leader L. K. Advani also addressed the meeting.