Former BJP general secretary Sanjay Joshi has been invited as Chief Guest to attend the seminar on Swami Vivekanand birth anniversary here on Tuesday in which many BJP leaders are likely to participate.
The function is being organised by Deendayal Sewa Pratishthan. Joshi would give lecture on “Nationalism and Indian culture basic of social equality”. Hoardings have come up in all important crossings of the city declaring Joshi’s visit to lucknow.
Many party leaders including ward corporators have welcomed Joshi’s visit to lucknow. One of the hoardings even talk about Joshi’s fight for justice. “Joshi ji is here to address a seminar on the birthday of Swamy Vivekanand. BJP has nothing to do it it. The function is organised by Deen dayal Sewa Pratishthan,” Devendra Verma, a corporator said.
He said this function would be presided over by senior RSS leader Jai Krishna Sinha.
BJP has played down the visit of Joshi. BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that Joshi is no longer in BJP. But he is in RSS. Joshi ji is still in touch with many party leaders and there is no direction from the party to ostracize him from the society,” BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak told The Pioneer on Monday.
“He is coming to lucknow to attend some functions and is free to do so. Anyone can go and listen to him or attend that function,” he said.
Joshi was one time national general secretary of the party but differences cropped between him and Narendra Modi leading to his ouster from the BJP. But he continues to be in the RSS.