Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Highlighting the history of BJP, party general secretary (Org) Ashok Koul today said that BJP had launched a crusade against the black days of emergency, imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani to restore the democratic rule in the country for which thousands of people laid down their lives during quit India Movement.
Kaul was addressing a prgaramme organized by BJP Displaced District led by its president Chand Ji Bhat.
He said that Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 in response to the politics of the dominant Congress party. The Jana Sangh’s first major campaign began in early 1953 for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into India. In 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a State of emergency. He said BJS merged in Janata Party to give a united fight to Congress. Later it was rechristened as BJP in 1980 after the spilt of Janata Party and Party continued its struggle on the basis of its ideology of strengthening the nationalist forces in the country.
Chand Jee Bhat President while addressing appealed gathering that people should strengthen the hands of Prime Minister and apprised people about the steps taken by him for development of the country. Whether that may be Ujala, Ujwala , Bati Bachow Bati Padaw, Jan Dan Ujna and like other schemes. Sab Ka Saath Sabka Vikas is priority of the Prime Minister, he added.
Ravinder Kumar Raina vice president in his address appealed the gathering for voting in favour of BJP- PDP candidate in by-elections of Anantnag and Srinagar Parliamentary constituencies.
Ramesh Koul Yuva Morcha president, Vijay Raina Mandal president, Veena Gurtoo executive member T N Bhat ex-president Kashmiri Displaced District, Chaman Lal Pandita, Avtar Krishen Sher Secretaries KDD, Sanjay Bhat Secretary YVM, Rakesh Fotedar, Booth Presidents KBM Anil Tickoo, Rajander Tickoo and Rajander Koul, Vice Presidents KBM Ashok Ji Raina, B L Razdan and secretary A K Pandita attended the programme.