After the dismal performance in the recent Assembly polls, the BJP on Friday sought to enthuse the morale of its cadre on its foundation day by highlighting the "progress" made in party-ruled states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and achievements of its founder Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"The present situation will change, darkness will give way to light and lotus will bloom.... We have the blessings of Atalji," Party President Nitin Gadkari, who inaugurated an exhibition, Virasat (Heritage), at the BJP headquarters to mark the 32nd foundation day of the party, said.
While praising Vajypayee several times in his speech Gadkari recalled words from his poem, "Atalji had said there will be light after darkness and the lotus (BJP symbol) will bloom. "The confidence the ruling class enjoyed among the people has ceased to exist... Corruption has broken all records. There is darkness. We have the blessings of Atalji. The present situation will change, darkness will give way to light and lotus will bloom," he said.
Gadkari said that he last visited Vajpayee, who is bed-ridden and suffering from age-related ailments, about eight days back. "I visit his home every fortnight to seek his blessings...." he said.
The BJP chief praised the development work done in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Many saw this as a comparison of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi- with whom he is said to be not on the best of terms- and MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "If we look at the parameters of Industrial development, GDP and per capita income, then we will see NDA and BJP ruled states are leading in every sphere, reflecting the pace of development". He said by the year-end, they will be finalising a document 'India vision 2025' which would be the master plan for country's development focusing on all sectors.
Gadkari said there is a great deal of concern among the people about the prevailing state in the country as the economy is in a bad shape and questions are being raised about law and order.
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The BJP chief said while the agriculture growth rate in Madhya Pradesh has touched 10 per cent, the growth rate in Gujarat was 14 per cent.
"This has been achieved because we work on the ideology of nation building and with the spirit of good governance and development."
Noting that the party was not a "factory" for producing MPs and MLAs or for seeking power, he said the leaders who have built the party have believed in the principle of development of the nation.