BJP plans silver jubilee celebrations

After the Congress' re-enactment of the Dandi March on the occasion of its diamond jubilee, the BJP is also preparing to revive a bit of history for its own cadre.

The party, which will be celebrating 25 years of its founding in April, has planned year-long celebrations to remember events and milestones that shaped the party's history.

The idea, floated by BJP President LK Advani, envisages a return to the roots for the party which, after the defeat in the 2004 general elections, appeared to be searching again for ideological moorings that had been weakened by six years in power at the head of a coalition government.

In fact, not only the BJP, important events in the history of the Jan Sangh will also be commemorated.

"Starting from 1953, when Syama Prasad Mookerjee was arrested in Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir for protesting against the special permit system that existed at that time, to the Pokhran tests in 1998. All important events will be celebrated," said a senior party officer-bearer.

The celebrations are going to be kicked off in Delhi on April 5 and 6. The BJP national executive will be held on April 5, while the national council meeting will be held on April 6 at the Ambedkar Stadium here.

In fact, the four yatras undertaken by senior party leaders, two yatras for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Bharat Uday Yatra just before the General Election in 2004 by Advani and the Ekta Yatra by former Party President Murli Manohar Joshi, will also be celebrated.

"This will include remembering the day Advaniji got arrested in Samastipur, Bihar, during the Ram Temple Rath Yatra," added the office bearer.

The celebrations are going to be kicked off by functions in Delhi on April 5 and 6l. The BJP National Executive will be held on April 5, while the national council meeting will be held on April 6 at the Ambedkar Stadium here.