LK Advani, taking a leave from electoral politics shot out at his party leadership and their principles stating the BJP has never regarded the people who were politically not supporting them as “enemies” or “anti-national.”
The post came on LK Advani’s blog titled “Nation first, Party next, and self last” and came just ahead of BJP’s 39th founding day, i.e. 6th April.
Taking his remarks forward he said that, the democracy of India lies in the Freedom of speech, and every individual has the right to be politically opinionated. He said that “BJP never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our enemies. In our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as anti-national.” He urged the party to “look back, look ahead and look within.”
To the blog post of LK Advani, Narendra Modi commented saying that Advani has summed up the true essence of the party. “Advaniji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the building mantra of ‘Nation first, party second, and self-last.'” Modi Ji also expressed his gratitude to have such leaders like LK Advani Ji who have strengthened the party.
The post was in a reply to Congress manifesto’s criticism that was termed as reflecting the anti-national sentiments. The post also targeted the opposition demanding the proof of Balakot Airstrike and how many casualties were reported.
LK Advani said in his post that BJP had always been at the forefront of demanding protection of the independence, integrity, fairness, and robustness of all democratic institutions, including the media.
In the 2019 elections, BJP has dropped many leaders for the candidature on the basis of its 75-plus age ban, but Mr. Advani and Mr. Manohar Joshi were exceptions in 2014. But later on when numbers were received and the leaders were made the members of the mentors’ club that hurt LK Advani’s sentiments.
He has been benched by the BJP ahead of the upcoming general elections. He has been the Lok Sabha member from Gandhinagar six times since 1991. In the upcoming elections, BJP president Amit Shah will be contesting from Gandhinagar, Gujarat.