With its government under fire from the opposition over the Land Bill, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Monday asked partymen to vigorously counter the campaign of “disinformation and falsehood” launched by rivals and be prepared for sacrifice.
Addressing BJP workers and leaders at a function to mark its foundation day, Shah highlighted the “long tradition of sacrifice” in the party and asked the cadre not to aspire for position but work for nation-building.
“Today, on the party's foundation day, I appeal to you to work unitedly to make this government successful and take its work to people and counter disinformation and falsehood spread by the opposition,” he said.
“If the opposition tries to create disinformation, then it is the responsibility of all party workers to tell the truth to the people,” he said.
The BJP chief said the Modi government had laid a strong foundation and will take the country forward in a way that it becomes a world leader in the coming times.
“I am confident that when we seek mandate for another term under Narendra Modi, we will get even a better one,” he said.
He, however, clarified that nobody in the BJP hankered after power.
“We are fortunate to have a leadership tradition in which people made sacrifices and spent their entire life for the country...This party was not formed to make anyone the prime minister. This party was formed to make India the ‘Vishwa Guru’ (world leader),” he said.
He asked partymen not to pursue ‘career-oriented’ thoughts and that success and position will follow hard work.
“You should keep working hard and success and position will follow. We are fortunate to have a leadership tradition of making sacrifices and nothing else,” he said.
With the BJP completing its 35 years, Shah highlighted the role played by party leaders in the past to take its ideology forward and remembered the contribution made by leaders like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and others.
Party patriarch Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were conspicuous by their absence. Party sources said no invitation was extended to any leader for the event.
Image: Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah addressing the party workers at the partys Sthapana Diwas (foundation day) function in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Yadav/ PTI
