"Women first" for govt and party, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that India is moving forward from women development to women-led development, and "women first" is the mantra of his government and the BJP.

Reaching out to women ahead of the May 12 Assembly elections in Karnataka, Modi asked them to help the BJP win by focusing on polling booths.

"Today, the country is moving forward from women development to women-led development," Modi said, interacting with Karnataka BJP Mahila Morcha workers through the 'NarendraModi App', his third such outreach aimed at galvanising the party machinery for the D-day.

He had earlier interacted with BJP office-bearers and candidates, and state farmers' wing leaders.

"We have such a mantra for country's development, our party also believes in this mantra," he said.

"Mahila shakti" (woman power), Modi said, was important in the BJP's scheme of things.

"For us, whether it is the organisation or the government, or framing of programmes, it is women first," he added.

Noting that capable women hold important portfolios in his cabinet, Modi pointed at two group photos of the SCO summit in China where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were the only women.

"Both of them have connection with Karnataka," he said. Sitaraman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, while Swaraj had contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Ballari against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which the latter won.

Lauding women BJP workers, Modi asked them to focus on winning at the polling booth level.

"We have to win the state election and we will win. We have to win Assembly constituency we will win. But as always I urge karyakartas (workers)...for me the most important thing is winning polling booths."
Responding to a question about the Congress spreading "falsehood" despite his government's work for empowering women, Modi said, "If they don't spread lies, how will their vehicle run? Spreading lies is the only thing left for them to do, and because of it they are losing trust...people are disappointed."