Will provide electricity to all houses: PM Modi

The prime minister on Monday has clearly stated that electrification in all houses will be one of the major aims of the government in coming years.

With less than two years to go for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Modi said his government will bear all costs of electrifying around four crore people, who are presently living in darkness, that amounts to Rs.16,000 crore.

The prime minister even remembered his childhood days when he used to study in kerosene lamps which made him realise the plight of crores of Indians living in darkness.

Highlighting the success of the central government in power sector area, the PM said: "India is becoming an electricity surplus leaving behind the tag of electricity lacking country."

Taking a dig at the UPA government which ruled the country in the previous decade, Modi said the news of power cut in different states which were so familiar in earlier days are now a history.

Praising the work of his own government after coming to power in May 2014, the PM said: "Policies taken in power sector made ease of doing business."

The national conclave, which was presided by BJP president Amit Shah along with PM Modi, were attended by several party members, MPs, MLAs and chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech at the  party's national executive, focused on making the party an instrument of mass participation.

He said the PM aimed at taking BJP party beyond elections.

"Main point of PM's speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it instrument of mass participation," Jaitley told media.

Speaking on the meeting, Jaitley said: "13 CMs, 6 Deputy CMs, 232 state min, 1500 MLA, 334 MPs were present in BJP National Executive Meeting."

Jaitley said: "BJP is the most important political party in the country."