BJP moves to pacify upset cadre, will help those battling financial distress due to Covid
India

BJP moves to pacify upset cadre, will help those battling financial distress due to Covid

BJP president J.P. Nadda has directed state units to help cadres, after being informed that workers in distress were unhappy with the lack of support from the party leadership.

   
Representation image of BJP party workers at a rally | PTI File Photo

Representation image of BJP party workers at a rally | PTI File Photo

New Delhi: Concerned over the disappointment expressed by some party workers over the lack of help from the BJP’s leadership, for those facing health and financial distress brought on by the Covid pandemic in the country, party president J.P. Nadda has directed state units to form committees to help to cadres and their family members during this crisis.

State leaders were asked during a virtual meeting to visit the families of party workers who have died in the pandemic and extend all possible help to them

Confirming that committees are being formed, Rajasthan BJP state president Satish Poonia told ThePrint that the party had issued directions to set up panels because it’s the moral duty of the party to stand in support of its workers.

“We have seven divisions in the state unit and each of these divisions have appointed senior leaders as in-charge, who will make phone calls to the party workers’ families. Apart from this, the district president, MP and MLAs of that area will also visit the homes of such workers who have died or in case anyone in their (the party workers’) family has died,” he said.

Another party leader said the idea was also to help those facing financial trouble after paying hefty hospital bills for Covid treatment.

Sources said several party workers as well as their families were upset over not being provided help by the state units during a time of crisis. “We are the ones who go door-to-door, organise crowds at rallies, distribute pamphlets, but when we are facing this crisis no one has come forward. We are told that we are a family, is this how family members are treated?” said a party functionary from Delhi.


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‘Moral responsibility of party to stand by workers’

According to a senior BJP leader, Nadda, during his meeting, emphasised the importance of party workers and their contribution to the growth of the party.

“We ask our party workers to work on the ground for the party, as well as the society. If that same worker has faced or is facing some difficulties it’s the moral responsibility of the party to stand with them and provide necessary assistance,” a BJP leader who had attended the meeting, quoted Nadda as saying.

The direction by Nadda was also to provide necessary assistance to workers with limited resources and who are now under severe financial stress after recovering from Covid. “There are many BJP workers who are under severe financial crisis after paying bills for hospitalisation. It has been decided to provide some assistance,” said a party leader who is aware of the development.

Poonia further said that the state unit has also asked every division to prepare a report on problems being faced by party workers and submit it to them for further action.

“I have asked the local functionaries to prepare a report of such workers whose families are in a bad situation or if the worker is facing some hardship. Once the list is approved, then help will be extended to them through the emergency fund,” he added.

Uttarakhand state BJP president Madan Kaushik also said that they have started the process of forming the committees and personal visits will be made to the family members of party workers killed in the pandemic.


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‘Families in severe distress’

According to sources, the central leadership was apprised by state units that a number of its workers had died in the pandemic across the country. Some of the party members who died had been the sole earning members of their family.

“There are many party workers who are not in a good condition financially and have died during the pandemic. Their families are now living in severe stress. It has also decided to provide necessary assistance to the grieving families by the party as they are also part of the BJP family,” added another leader, who did not wish to be named.

According to a source, party chief Nadda and national general secretary (Organisation), B.L. Santosh stressed on need for the state units to form a committee to provide help and moral support to party workers or their family members.

“Both Nadda ji and Santosh ji asked the state units to form a committee of senior leaders who will ensure required assistance is provided to our workers or their families. Santosh ji also said that state units should provide the assistance from its resources and in case of difficulties in providing support, they should approach the central leadership,” said a party leader.

(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)


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