Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that nationalism was the identity of BJP. He told senior BJP leaders at a workshop of the party’s State Core Committees, that nationalism and patriotism are the tools to fight sectarian politics in India, and they should adhere to this agenda. "Over 80% of BJP workers are SC, ST and OBC and yet opposition parties have tried to create misconceptions about the party through concerted campaigns", Modi said at at the end of the day-long BJP national core group meeting at NDMC Hall. It should be the BJP's endeavour to counter such malicious propaganda, he said. Modi insisted on sustaining the agenda of nationalism, but also said it was time to think beyond it. In his 45-minute speech, the PM said there are many forces working against the BJP, and it is the task of every karya kartha to fight those forces and concentrate on nation building.

"Create an image of the party and government in the hearts of the poorest of poor. Emerge not just as a political force by winning polls but also as a social force," PM Modi told his party colleagues. Though the PM did not refer overtly to any political issue at the organisation meeting of his party, he cited the ongoing Tiranga Yatra as an innovative political activity for a party in power. Modi emphasised on the need for the party to reach out to every walk of society. Earlier, inaugurating the meeting, BJP president Amit Shah asked members to keep BJP's ideology central to governance in states where they are in power. He said that of 1,650 registered political parties, BJP is the only one bound by an ideology.