Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 25 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stressed the need for creating an alternate politics as advocated by Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya who had always suggested that no section of people should be left neglected or considered as tools to garner votes.

Citing the "vikrut paribhasha (distorted definition)" of secularism propagated in the country, he recalled that long back, Upadhyaya, founding father of the Jan Sangh -- the predecessor of the ruling BJP -- had said that Muslims should not be mere tools to garner votes nor neglected.

Deendayal had said Muslims should not be treated as "substance of vote market", said Modi.

"It is in this context, we have launched our developmental programmes based on the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," Modi said in his address at the concluding session here of the BJP's National Council meet.

"We have always tried to uphold his principles and today we again pledge ourselves to rededicate for the cause of such inclusive development," he said. 

Modi said it was high time we extended a helping hand to the last man -- the poorest man in each corner of the country. 

"A country such as ours -- full of young people -- should have youthful dreams and youthful pace", he said and added that the BJP's original character was based on principles of welfare of the people and the party had never compromised with its ideals.

Paying tributes to Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked if politicians today can change Indian politics by following his ideals.

"Through our thinking and conduct, can we change people's perception towards politicians? Can we become symbols of the ideals of Pandit Deendayal?" Modi said in his address at the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Council meeting here.

He said that Upadhyaya gave the mantra that the Indian politics should be rooted in Indian culture.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that India will ratify the Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2.

"Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2," Modi said while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national executive meet here.

In the UN climate change conference COP 21 in Paris, 195 countries adopted the first universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The agreement is due to enter into force in 2020.

Modi again pitches for electoral reforms

Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 25 (IANS) Reissuing his call for electoral reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was imperative to strengthen democracy.

"I think this is time to bring about electoral reforms. In the centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, we can organise seminars across the country on electoral reforms," said Modi in his address to the BJP's National Council meeting here. 

"At least we should start brainstorming the issue, and we will see what amrit (nectar) will come out of this churning," he said.

"To strengthen the roots of democracy, we will have to bring about electoral reforms, we will have to add a few new things, have to delete a few obsolete things from the electoral procedures," he said.

He said that even members from other political parties have been asking him to bring about electoral reforms, but it would be better if changes emerged after thorough brainstorming.

This is at least the third time in as many months that the Prime Minister has called for electoral reforms, including simultaneous parliamentary and state assembly elections, in the country.