Allies tweet support to BJP, hail Modi’s leadership qualities
NEWDELHI: Several NDA allies congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its 38th foundation day on Friday, reiterating faith in the alliance big brother and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The congratulatory messages from the partners came amid reports about a tension between the BJP and its allies and the Telugu Desam Party criticising its former partner for not treating its allies well.
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the Lok Janshakti Party’s experience of working with both Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Modi had been excellent. In a series of tweets, the LJP chief said, “Lok Janshakti Party wishes our friends in the @BJP4India a Happy Foundation Day. Our experience of working with PM Vajpayee and now PM @narendramodi has been excellent. The nation will always be indebted to these two Prime Ministers for their role in India’s transformation.”
Paswan said Modi understood the dreams and aspirations of the Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minoriwishes” ties more than anyone else. Paswan was one of the first to urge the Centre to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against its judgment on the SC/ST Act.
J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, “Hearty congratulations to @BJP4India on its foundation day. I sincerely hope that India under @narendramodi ji can truly exhibit the moral leadership of the region by winning the trust, hearts & minds of the people of J&K.” Mehbooba also heads the Peoples Democratic Party, which has been at loggerheads with the BJP on issues such as FIR against security forces posted in the Valley.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also conveyed his “greetings and best to the BJP and said his party was “extremely proud” of its “strong & time tested alliance” with the BJP. The SAD-BJP government was ousted in Punjab last year and the two lost a couple of by-elections since then. A section of the SAD has also been questioning the way BJP treats its allies. Union minister Ramdas Athawale said, “I wish @BJP4India on the Foundation Day. Under the dynamic leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi BJP led NDA Govt. is fully committed to fulfilling the dreams and ideals of venerable Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
While Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal said the BJP was a party which “respects the coalition ethic and spirit”, Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party, which is part of the alliance in Goa, also wished the saffron party.
At the BJP parliamentary party meeting, Modi said the BJP had become the largest party due to people’s blessings and tireless efforts of its workers. He also paid tributes to the party’s late leaders and workers, saying the foundation day was dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for the party’s growth.