BJP never saw critics as anti-national: LK Advani's message in blog ahead of 2019 polls
Veteran BJP leader and former deputy PM L.K Advani, who has been benched by the BJP high command, in a blog titled “National First, Party Next, Self Last,” has written out his message stating that ‘BJP never called its critiques as anti-national’.
Advani, whose traditional seat of Gandhi Nagar has been handed over to party president Amit Shah, urged in his blog to “look back, look ahead, and look within,” and thereafter stressed on “democracy and democratic traditions.”
PM Narendra Modi, eventuallytweeted about the blog of LK Advani and said that the leader has summed up the essence of BJP efficiently.
Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of ‘Nation First, Party Next, Self Last.’
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2019
Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it. https://t.co/xScWuuDuMq
“Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last.' Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened,” tweeted PM Modi.
In his blog, LK Advani has written that, “Defense of democracy and democratic traditions, both within the Party and in the larger national setting, has been the proud hallmark of the BJP.”
“The essence of Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression. Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries.”
Advani, who has been contesting the Lok Sabha polls since decades was benched along with other veteran leader like Murli Manohar Joshi for 2019 polls. Advani’s blog post is now being seen as an upset acceptance of the same in the current political scenario.
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First published: 5 April 2019, 9:35 IST