It is time for 'vikas yagya' in UP: PM Modi

ALLAHABAD: Reminding party leaders that popular expectations will not be satisfied by slogans alone, PM Narendra Modi set out a seven-point code of conduct for BJP members that stresses qualities like restraint and balance which he said should be reflected in individual actions as well as policies.The PM, who apparently became emotional for a few seconds during his address to the national executive, said: "For us, power is not happiness, but responsibility. For that... every moment, every bit of our lives should be dedicated to achieve this. Shivaji's life was selfless... his commitment was real, I draw my inspiration from Shivaji. I have pledged to devote every bit of my body to the country," he said.Modi's stress on conduct seems to come in the backdrop of controversies like the resignation of Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse over an alleged land deal scam."The country has to be strengthened, people are not going to be satisfied with just slogans... they are concerned about how the nation is to become stronger," finance minister Arun Jaitley quoted the PM as having told the national executive.Modi's focus on qualities like "service, balance, restraint, harmony, positivity, coordination and dialogue" reads like a caution that leaders should be careful about the taint of controversy. The possible inferences can range from self-indulgent selfies, indiscreet comments on sensitive issues to con-troversial social contacts. "These seven points should be evident in our actions and policies," Modi said."Politicians should make well considered statements," is how Jaitley explained it through his sharp political nuance, when asked at the press conference what the provocation was for Modi to come up with the code of conduct.The PM's advice at a time when the government has completed two years in office was accompanied by a pledge that he would devote his heart and soul to the cause of the country even as he said his two years had been marked by a record production of coal, power and urea."India has missed many chances of benefiting from the industrial revolution. Such chances don't come along repeatedly. But India has got a chance yet again. We should make the most of this opportunity," Modi said.The government, he said, had scripted a success story by turning around what used to be a situation of policy paralysis to making India a global "bright spot". He expressed hope that important laws would be passed by Parliament as most parties were backing efforts to improve governance.The reference to the need to deliver beyond slogans was read as a bid to avoid complacency and alert the party about the challenges of governance with BJP now being in office in several states, many added to its kitty after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.As BJP chief Amit Shah did on Sunday, the PM listed a record of achievements which has been a major theme of the executive. The statements also seem to come in the context of opposition criticism that the campaign promise of "achhe din (good days)" has been unfulfilled.The invocation of service (sewa), balance (santulan), restraint (sanyam), coordination (samanvay), positivity (sakaratmakta), harmony (sadbhavna) and communication (samvad) also reflected the PM's concern about the acts of some BJP members.