BJP TODAY

October 16--31, 2005 - Vol. 14, No. 20

Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpyaee said that there could be no restriction on thinking as "It is a constantly evolving process" and there should always be room for fresh thoughts and ideas." Shri Vajpayee was speaking at a function oraganised at Party Head quarters in New Delhi to mark the 89th birth anniversary of Deendayalji on 25th September.

Recalling how Pandit Deenadyal Upadhyay always encouraged fresh ideas and thoughts in pursuit of ideology, Shri Vajpayee said his conduct was a source of inspiration to all. Referring to Ekatam Manavad (Integral Humanism) Shri Vajpayee stressed the need to assimilate the philosophy of Deendayalji and take inspiration from it.

Shri Vajpayee added, "We have witnessed the spread of communism and its final disintegration. We have seen the growth of capitalism and socialism in some parts of the world. Then Democracy came to the fore, and it is the dominant ideology in the world today". He continued, "One should keep alive the thinking process (on ideology) and should not think that end has been reached".

Presiding over the function Party Vice-President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the country facing many challenges was left with only one option-of adopting nationalism. "BJP is a party for which nation comes first", he said.

He asked the party workers to rededicate themselves to work in a disciplined manner to achieve the greater vision of the party ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

Shri Naidu took the opportunity to attack the UPA Government over the revelations made by a former KGB agent Mitrokhin in his latest book. "The revelations in the book are so shocking that the KGB operatives had intruded not only political hierarchy but also Intelligence Bureau, media, etc. and had even influenced decisions of the then Government," Shri Naidu said demanding a judicial probe by a retired Supreme Court Judge.

On this occasion Shri Mahesh Chandra Sharma gave a special presentation on Deenayalji's philosophy. In his address he said Deendayalji propagated Geo-cultural nationalism and "Akhand Bharat was not mere slogan but a political belief for Deendayalji." It was for this reason, when Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia advocated Indo- Pak federation, Deendayalji was quick to join him and issue a joint statement in 1963.

Elaborating Deendayalji's political outlook, Shri Mahesh Chandra Sharma said, "He interpreted India's cultural values and beliefs in present day context making it more dynamic and viable. He used words like Virat Chiti Rashtriyata Ekatmata in an age when western terms were being used freely by the ideologues and policy makers."

Earlier, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee released "Challenges", a special issue of Kamal Sandesh published in both English and Hindi by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerji Nyas. The programme was compered by Dr. Ram Kripal Sinha, the Secretary of Dr. Mookerji Nyas.