BJP takes dig at Congress for criticising Janardan Dwivedi over PM Narendra Modi’s praise

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today attacked Congress for criticising its own veteran leader Janardan Dwivedi’s “praise” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged the opposition party was riddled with internal rifts and lack of inner democracy.

BJP said the Congress general secretary had stated facts in his “considered” statement and accused Congress leadership of “forcing” him to clarify after “pressure” exerted on him, even as it welcomed anyone into the party-fold that respected BJP’s ideology and principles.

BJP also accused Congress of being in denial mode and asked it to objectively introspect on reasons of its humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections and subsequent assembly polls to understand the public mood in favour of Modi and BJP that has come due to the Indian-ness exhibited by them in touching the common man’s interests.

“There is internal rift in the Congress on Dwivedi’s statement. This rift is only because there is no inner party democracy in Congress. It is not there today, it never was. We cannot expect Congress to have democracy and shared values of democracy within the party. At the same time, one should speak good words about good deeds by opposition parties or leaders,” Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press conference.

The senior BJP leader said what Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said “is based on facts” and the criticism over his statement reflects that Congress party’s “family politics and dynastic politics culture and mindset.”

“When they are assessing their loss after eight months, still they are in a self denial mode,” she said, adding that the criticism over the statement by Congress is like “insulting” the voters of the country who voted BJP and Modi to power.

“It reflects the mindset of the Congress party that Janardan Dwivedi’s statement is being condemned by Congress spokesperson. It is a statement which reflects the mindset of flattery. A mindset of not looking at virtues of democracy politics. People who have benefitted from dynastic politics are protesting,” Sitharaman said.

Taking exception to Dwivedi’s praise for Modi, Congress today hinted that disciplinary action could be taken against its senior-most general secretary even as the 69-year-old Congress leader contended that he had not praised Modi and he was being misquoted.

On whether Dwivedi was welcome in the party, Sitharaman said “BJP invites all those who respect its ideology and principles. Every moment we are ready to receive such leaders.”

On Dwivedi’s remarks, she said “Dwivedi is a very senior leader. He used to write Congress President’s speeches. It has to be a considered view.

There was no need to clarify again. Because there is pressure on him by Congress leadership.”

She said she would not like to test the Congress leader’s ideology through his one-line definition of Indian-ness which came out through the public recognition of Modi and BJP whom they voted in with large numbers.

Attacking Congress for allegedly not allowing its leaders to openly express their views, she said “you seem to put pressure on people who have independent viewpoint. That itself shows how Congress has lost its democratic moorings.”

To a question whether there was no internal democracy within BJP when some of its leaders, including Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, were forced to apologise and take back their words, the Union Minister said “there is a difference between personal and party views. There is difference in non-ideological matters. It is not right to compare.”

The BJP leader questioned if the Prime Minister did not reflect the Indian-ness through his work in public interest and welfare that has touched the hearts of people who voted him to power.

“The Prime Minister was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He rose in public life due to his sheer hard work both in politics and in BJP. People in BJP have grown through their hard work at grassroots and democratic values. Congress does not appreciate such value systems,” she said.

Sitharaman said schemes like Jan Dhan and reduction in price rise are steps aimed at public welfare which have been lauded by public who are electing BJP in every state after electing it to power at the Centre.

She said Congress should understand the public verdict and should not condemn people who voted BJP and Modi for their Indian-ness.

She also lamented the “negative” mindset of Congress in the manner in which they have “condemned” the Prime Minister who belongs to the nation and not a particular party.

The former BJP spokesperson suggested “Congress party should not be in denial mode and become a constructive opposition in the coming budget session of Parliament as people are watching their constructive work.”