Indicating its battle readiness amid speculation of early general elections, the BJP on Saturday utilised its 33rd foundation day celebrations across the country to come out all guns blazing against the Congress, its vice-president Rahul Gandhi and the Government even as it espoused the cause of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
And needless to mention, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whom BJP chief Rajnath Singh termed as the “most popular leader of the country”, continued to be at the centre stage — be it in Rampur in UP or Patna in Bihar.
Modi too did not miss out on the opportunity. On his home turf, at the Sardar Patel Stadium, he presented a massive show of strength before his party chief and took potshots at the Congress and the Gandhi scion. “India may be a beehive for the Congress, but for the BJP she is our mother. Do not spoil India’s tradition due to your ignorance about the country,” Modi said as the enthusiastic crowd cheered him.
His reference was to Rahul Gandhi’s speech at CII wherein he had compared India to a beehive and called for unleashing its potential.
The showman in Modi was in full display as he led the leaders and the masses to take a pledge “on the banks of Sabarmati” holding candles in hands in “a sign of going into light from darkness”, as citizens are “tired of Congress’ corruption and false promises”. The resolve was to make India the greatest and give it a Government committed to continuous development of the country.
Accusing the Congress of using the CBI to harass Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers, Modi, flanked by former Home Minister Amit Shah, told the gathering, “Don’t expect Congress to change. That will never happen.”
Earlier, Narendra Modi, Rajnath and re-elected State BJP chief RC Faldu went around the stadium in an open jeep as the crowd cheered them by waving party flags and releasing saffron balloons in the air.
Huge cut-outs of BJP stalwarts Atal Bihari Vajpayee, lK Advani, Rajnath along with Modi and Faldu adorned the stage.For his part, Rajnath quoted several institutions like Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and US Research organisation to showcase the world community’s endorsement of Modi’s growth model.
Castigating the Congress leaders for their uncharitable remarks about Modi, he said the people of Gujarat had given a befitting reply to the party for calling him ‘maut ka saudagar’ (merchant of death). “People of India would again give their reply in 2014 for the Congress leader’s comment comparing Modi with ‘Yamraj’ (God of death),” he said.
In Rampur, though, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi came up with a crisp counter to the Congress on the remark. “Yes, Narendra Bhai is Yamraj but only for those who had and have been adopting terrorism, corruption and conspiracies against the nation. Congress has rightly seen Modi in the form of Yamraj as he will prove to be so for them in the coming general elections,” said Naqvi.
Patna saw Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi apparently pitching for Modi and taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi by maintaining a single person can, in fact, bring a turnaround in the situation of the country if he has the leadership qualities and a vision for the future.
Senior BJP leader lK Advani, who led the celebrations in Delhi, raked up the Ram Temple issue and asked partymen not to be apologetic for the Ayodhya movement and instead take pride in it.
He also referred to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s recent words of praise for him, which had surprised many, and said that people should not hesitate to speak the “right thing” as “the world will accept it”.
“When people believe and talk of our Ayodhya issue and agitate over it, you should not be apologetic over it, ever. You should take pride in it,” Advani said, adding he felt pride in admitting that his party raised the issue of Ram temple and Ayodhya as it was not just a political movement but also a cultural one.
Advani said he has no objection to those who believe that BJP gained support by raising the Ayodhya and Ram temple issue alone, but added that he could not complete the Ayodhya Yatra as he was arrested before reaching Ayodhya.
Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel, however, created a flutter by saying the next government at the Centre will be formed under Advani’s leadership. He later clarified that what he meant was that the next government will be formed under Advani’s guidance.