BJP to reach out to diaspora in big way

The BJP is seeking to reach out to the Indian diaspora in an election year through a "global meet" here Jan 6 that would be addressed by its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi through video link and by senior leader L. K. Advani.

The "OFBJP Global Meet 2014" is being held as part of Bharatiya Janata Party's mission to win more than 272 seats in this year's Lok Sabha polls, a party release said. BJP overseas affairs convenor Vijay Jolly said that party president Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the meet.

"This is the first time that a programme to connect BJP with the global Indian diaspora is being organised on such a scale," Jolly said in the release.

He said among those present will be former prime minister of Fiji, Mahendra Chaudhry.

Modi will address the meeting through video while Advani will deliver the valedictory address.

The release said that delegates from several countries including Australia, USA, UK, Canada, China, Nepal, Norway, UAE, Israel, Qatar, Macau, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Italy, Vietnam, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia and Oman would attend the meet.

A video titled "BJP Ke Badhte Kadam (forward march of BJP)" shall also be screened.

BJP leaders who would address the meet include Jaswant Singh, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari.

The meet comes ahead of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas function here Jan 7-9.