Nehru lacked 'essence of India': Amit Shah at BJP training camp

Union minister Amit Shah on Saturday said in the journey from the Jana Sangh to the BJP, his party's culture and principles never changed, and hence it could achieve so much in the last 11 years of the Narendra Modi government. Speaking at a training camp of the Bharatiya Janata Party at Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh, he also said the policies of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first prime minister, lacked the "essence of India", and that was why Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee decided to quit his government and form the Jana Sangh. Shah inaugurated the three-day training camp organised by the Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP for its public representatives and functionaries. "When you introspect, you may realise that we often work more for ourselves than for the party. It's time to start working for the party," Shah said.
Speaking about the beginnings of the Jana Sangh, he said Nehru dominated Congress completely after independence, and many people who had joined the freedom movement under the Congress's umbrella left as the policies of the Nehru government became clear. "Many felt the country was heading in the wrong direction. The policies crafted by the Nehru government lacked the essence of India, its soil, its ancient culture, its societal values, lifestyle, and religion," the BJP leader said. "Influenced by Western ideologies, these policies felt disconnected from India's 10,000-year-old cultural legacy. Concerned by this, Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee resigned from Nehru's cabinet. He, along with other thinkers, decided to form a new party rooted in Indian soil and tradition, thus the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded," Shah said.
Starting with 11 members in a "small, dilapidated house in Delhi," the BJP has become the largest political party in the world with over 11 crore members, and has governments in 18 states besides having the highest number of MPs, MLAs, he said.The 11 years of the Narendra Modi government have been "11 years of national security", Shah said, adding that Prime Minister Modi made it clear that if anyone attacks Indian soil or Indian citizens, "they will be punished by entering their own territory."
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP chief V D Sharma also were present on the occasion, besides the ruling party's 165 MLAs, 29 Lok Sabha and seven Rajya Sabha members from the state. A similar camp had been held ahead of the 2023 assembly elections.