Modi Recalls 'Sacrifices' of BJP Veterans, Hails Atal-Advani
Accused of sidelining veterans, Narendra Modi today reached out to the elders in BJP, hailing the "sacrifice" of "four generations" of partymen and leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani and said they continue to inspire him.
Addressing workers from over six lakh polling booths across the country through a video conference on the occasion of BJP's 34th foundation day, the party's prime ministerial candidate equated them with security forces manning the posts on border and securing the boundaries of the nation.
Modia also made a brief reference to the "frightening excesses" during Emergency.
The Gujarat Chief Minister, who is under frequent attack from Opposition parties for "taking over" BJP and "sidelining" the seniors while projecting his own personality alone, showered encomiums on workers and leaders who contributed to the making of the present BJP.
"We have reached this place where we stand today riding the shoulders of those four generations....Whereever we find us today is the result of the sacrifice and hardwork of lakhs of workers of the four generations....There are many political parties but only we can claim of being an organisation based party.
"We are in existence due to our workers. It's not a simple event that four generations work in making a party and it continues to function. I salute those lakhs of workers, all the four generations, which sacrificed them for building the BJP," Modi said.
He added "We have been guided through the leadership of Atal ji and Advani ji. People like Kushabhau Thakre (former BJP President) and Sunder Singh Bhandari sacrificed their life." Modi said he remembers all of them and they inspire him.
He also quoted a line from Vajpayee "Suraj niklega, Andhera chatega aur Kamal khilega (The Sun will rise, the darkness will go away and the lotus will bloom)" on this occasion.
Insisting that it is the duty of the party workers to concentrate on succeeding at polling booths, Modi said,"people keep talking that we have to win this many seats. Somebody says we have to win in Assembly polls in states where they are happening. All these dreams are very good. A conquering mentality is the biggest essence for winning elections.
"But it's beginning is the polling booth. Polling booth is the main point for it. The jawan, which is deployed on the border also protects his post to secure the country. Only the jawan who secures his post is able to secure the country. Likewise polling booth is the main forte for winning elections."
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