Political dynasty biggest enemy of democracy: PM Modi 

"Our politics needs young people. This is a constructive medium to make positive changes. Poison of dynastic politics will continue to weaken democracy unless young people enter it," PM Modi said.

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Twitter/BJP)

In a veiled dig at the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched an attack on “political dynasty”, calling it a disease and the biggest “enemy of democracy.” Speaking at the second National Youth Parliament Festival, being held at the Central Hall of Parliament, the PM said that the days of those who won elections on the basis of their surnames are numbered, but there are still some who think only about protecting their families in politics.

Prime Minister Modi said that the biggest enemy facing the country is “rajneetik vanshvaad” (political dynasty.) “Political dynasty is a challenge that the country is faced with and it has to be rooted out. While it’s true that the days of those that won elections only on the basis of surnames are numbered, this disease of dynasty has not ended completely. There are still people whose ideas, thoughts and goals are all about keeping their families in politics,” Modi said.

He said dynasties burden the country with “akshamta” (inability), and results in lack of respect for the law. “Instead of putting the nation first, political dynasties only seek to entrench the idea of ‘only me and my family’ into the national psyche. This is also a big reason for political and social corruption. Those born and bred in political dynasties think that since their earlier generations got away with corruption, they can as well. They are surrounded by many living examples of that idea at their homes. Therefore, neither do these people have any respect for the law, nor do they have any fear of it,” Modi said.

The PM said that the responsibility of changing this long-held perception is on the youth of the country as he urged more of them to join politics. “More and more of you should come into politics. Not to take, or own, or become someone, but to do something. You should move forward with your thinking and your vision. As long as our youth don’t come into politics, this poison of dynasty will continue to weaken our democracy. To save the country, it is essential that you come into politics,” he said.