'Those who disagree with BJP aren't anti-nationals', writes LK Advani

Advani has been representing Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha for many terms. BJP national president Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar this time. The party’s political rivals have also hit out at the leadership for dropping 85-year-old BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi from his Kanpur seat.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L. K. Advani (C) gestures as he arrives at parliament for the opening of the budget session in New Delhi on January 31, 2019. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

New Delhi:  A week before Lok Sabha elections, BJP veteran LK Advani has said his party that has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as “enemies” or "anti-nationals". Expressing his opinions through a blog post, the 91-year-old has conveyed his “most sincere gratitude” to the people of Gandhinagar, who have elected him to the Lok Sabha six times since 1991. Advani’s write-up also comes at a time when Opposition leaders are training guns at PM Narendra Modi for denying ticket to the BJP patriarch and are calling it an “insult” to replace the 91-year-old in the Gandhinagar seat with Amit Shah. Advani has been representing Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha for many terms. BJP national president Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar this time. The BJP leadership has also been panned by political rivals for dropping 85-year-old BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi from his Kanpur seat. "Right from its inception, BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our enemies, but only as our adversaries," Advani wrote, adding “similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as anti-national”. Advani said it has been his rare privilege to work closely with stalwarts like Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and many other great, inspiring and self-less leaders. Advani, who was one of the founders of BJP, asserted that the guiding principle of his life has been ‘Nation First, Party Next, Self Last’ and claims in all situations, he has tried to adhere to this principle and will continue to do so. Lauding the saffron party’s principles, he said the party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level. “Defense of democracy and democratic traditions, both within the Party and in the larger national setting, has been the proud hallmark of the BJP. Therefore 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 our Party.” Advani's blog drew praise from PM Narendra Modi who tweeted saying, "Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of Nation First, Party Next, Self Last." Modi said he was proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud of the fact that 'greats' like LK Advani Ji have "strengthened it." Advani’s blog also come two days ahead of BJP’s Foundation Day.