Shun pressuring government for transfer-posting: Modi to UP MPs (Second Lead)

New Delhi, March 23 : Days after the BJP installed its government under Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cautioned party MPs from the state to refrain from pressurising state officials and asked them to focus on development of their region, sources said.

Modi's remarks came during his meeting with parliamentarians from the state over breakfast at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg here.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and party veteran Murali Manohar Joshi also attended the meeting.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Ministers Ananth Kumar refused to divulge details of the meeting but said the Prime Minister meets with MPs from different states during the Parliament session.

But later, the party issued a statement that the Prime Minister urged the MPs to coordinate with the newly installed government in Uttar Pradesh.

"The Prime Minister said that BJP has formed the government in the state after 15 years. The BJP government has began the process of development and social service with its full strength," the statement said.

It added: "For the success, good governance, converting the state from 'Bimaru' to 'Sucharu', establishment of corruption free government and fulfilment of the aspirations of the people, the MPs need to work in coordination with new government."

"Prime Minister asked us to refrain from transferring and posting of officials. This causes unnecessary pressure on the state government," a BJP parliamentarian who was present at the meeting quoted Modi as saying. The MP spoke to IANS on condition of anonymity.

The BJP leader said the Prime Minister also asked the MPs to focus on development of their region.

"The mandate is for development. We have to focus on development only. Good governance is mantra of development," the BJP leader quoted Modi.

Sources said the Prime Minister said that the MPs have a good opportunity to develop their region as there is a BJP government in the state as well as at the Centre.

He also asked party MPs to work in coordination with the state government.

This was the first such meeting after BJP leader Yogi Adityanath took over as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

The Prime Minister hailed the MPs for their hard work during the assembly elections and urged them to continue their work.

Sultanpur MP Varun Gandhi and Mathura MP Hema Malini also attended the meeting, among others.

The BJP won 312 seats in the just-concluded elections to the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. The party has promised all-round development in the state.

Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha, is crucial for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in view of the 2019 general elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has 71 MPs from Uttar Pradesh, including Modi himself.