On the 47th foundation day of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded party cadres, hailing their resilience and sacrifices and crediting them for their commitment to public service and nation-building. Addressing workers via video conference, he said BJP members had endured hardships—from the Emergency and Congress-era oppression to political violence in states such as West Bengal—to strengthen the party and serve the nation.
Tearing into the Congress over Emergency, the Prime Minister accused the grand old party of betraying people of India after getting record seats in 1984. While BJP is continuously working for the development of the country, Congress is only working for one family, he said.
“BJP workers never hesitate to raise issues concerning the people. They had firm faith that their hard work would secure India’s future. That is why karyakartas endured every hardship, whether during the Emergency or under Congress rule. Many even sacrificed their lives. We have seen this in states like Bengal, where violence has been turned into a political culture,” he said, reflecting on challenges after the 1984 general election, when Congress secured a landslide victory.
While highlighting the party’s roots, he also acknowledged the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying the BJP drew inspiration for its service-oriented mission from the organisation. Tracing its origins, he recalled the party’s evolution from the Jana Sangh after the Emergency, leading to its formal establishment on April 6, 1980, and noted the contributions of leaders like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The Prime Minister also reiterated a pledge to implement women’s reservation by the 2029 general elections. Recalling a 1994 Vadodara resolution on the issue, he said, “We are determined that the 2029 elections will be held with women’s quota in place.” His remarks come ahead of a proposed special session on April 16, where the government is expected to move amendments to advance the rollout of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Citing fulfilled commitments such as the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the abrogation of Article 370, the criminalisation of triple talaq, and the new Parliament building, Modi said the Uniform Civil Code and “One Nation, One Election” remain core pledges, he talked of BJP’s focus on national development and tackling illegal infiltration. Amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, Modi also said India’s global standing had improved. “There was a time when we maintained equidistant from all. Today, we maintain equal proximity to all,” he said.
Senior leaders joined Modi in praising the party’s growth, attributing it to the dedication of its workers—from a two-seat presence in 1984 to becoming the world’s largest political party. While the Ram Janmabhoomi movement provided momentum in the 1990s, the BJP’s expansion has been driven by booth-level organisation and its evolution into a broader social coalition. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted key milestones, including forming governments at the Centre and winning 303 seats in 2019. He described the party’s rise—from a 13-day government in 1996 to three consecutive terms in power—as an example of sustained political growth driven by dedicated cadres.