‘Only BJP, Left parties have upheld internal democracy’

PALAMPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah on Thursday said that India was facing crisis of principle-based parties and BJP was among only few ideology-driven ones.

“Most political parties in India have become family-owned enterprises,” said Shah, while addressing a conference of party workers at Budha Mal Castle near Palampur town.

Shah was on a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh under his Vistaar Yatra.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president said that India has 1,650 political parties and only BJP and the Left parties have upheld internal democracy.

“A political party is evaluated on the basis of three aspects — its principles, level of internal democracy and if the party is in power, how its governments function,” Shah said.

“A worker like, me with no political background, rising to the post of national president and son of a tea- seller becoming the Prime Minister of India, presents a perfect example of internal democracy in BJP,” he added.

Shah asked if anyone can tell who would be the next BJP chief after him. “But, in Congress, anyone can tell,” he said.

He said that Congress was like a special purpose vehicle for achieving independence and people of different ideologies were part of it.

“After independence, Congress was marred by dynasty politics and other parties who separated from Congress, followed the suit,” he said.

The BJP president also felicitated NK Kalia, father of Kargilwar hero Captain Saurabh Kalia, at the conference.

The conference was attended by professors from Central University of Himachal Pradesh and other institutions, along with doctors, lawyers and retired civil servants.