Disagreement to BJP's nationalism is not 'anti-national': Advani
New Delhi, Apr 4, 2019 ; Breaking his silence , BJP patriarch L K Advani, who was denied ticket from Gandhinagar, on Thursday penned a blog wherein he said in the party's ideology of Indian nationalism anyone disagreeing to the values and ideals cannot be regarded as an 'anti-national'.
''In our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as 'anti-national','' Mr Advani, long considered a voice of hardline Hindutva and nationialism, said.
He said elections are an occasion for ''honest introspection by all stakeholders'' including political parties, mass media, authorities conducting the poll process and the electorate.
In his blog, writing after five years ahead of BJP foundation day of April 6, the veteran leader said, ''This is an important occasion for all of us in the BJP to look back, look ahead and look within. As one of the Founders of the BJP, I deem it to be my duty to share my reflections with the people of India, and more specifically with the millions of workers of my Party, both of whom have indebted me with their affection and respect.''
''The essence of Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression. Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our ?enemies?, but only as our adversaries,'' he wrote.
''It is my sincere desire that all of us should collectively strive to strengthen the democratic edifice of India. True, elections are a festival of democracy. But they are also an occasion for honest introspection by all the stakeholders in Indian democracy ? political parties, mass media, authorities conducting the election process and, above all, the electorate,'' he said.
The party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level, Mr Advani stressed.
Defense of democracy and democratic traditions, both within the Party and in the larger national setting, has been the proud hallmark of the BJP, he said, adding that ''BJP has always been in the forefront of demanding protection of independence, integrity, fairness and robustness of all our democratic institutions, including the media.''
Electoral reforms, with special focus on transparency in political and electoral funding, which is so essential for a corruption-free polity, has been another priority for the BJP, he said.
In short, the triad of Satya (truth), Rashtra Nishtha (dedication to the Nation) and Loktantra (democracy, both within and outside the Party) guided the struggle-filled evolution of the Party, he said.
''The sum total of all these values constitutes Sanskritik Rashtravad (Cultural Nationalism) and Su-Raj (good governance), to which my Party has always remained wedded. The heroic struggle against the Emergency rule was precisely to uphold the above values,'' he said.
Copy of the Blog of L K Advani
( Agency )