BJP observes Deendayal Upadhyaya's death anniversary, asks for purity in election funding

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)on Monday observed the death anniversary of its ideologue, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya as 'Samarpan Diwas' across the country. While Telangana BJP president K Laxman and other party leaders paid homage to the departed leader in Hyderabad, paty national president Amit Shah addressed an event to pay his tribute to the party's ideological mentor in the national caoital. Speaking at the event, Shah said that political parties must run with donations from party workers and not from the black money of the rich.

"Deen Dayal Upadhyay ji stressed on clean funding, if parties had to be kept clean," Shah was quoted as saying on Monday. "If the means are not pure, the goals cannot be achieved with purity. If a party starts running with donations from the rich and those with black money, then its goals get tainted," Shah said.

Deen Dayal Ji emphasised on honesty in public life. Today on his Punya Tithi, BJP is starting a movement #SamarpanDivas to further transparency and clean money in politics. Urging you all to donate to the Party. The NaMo App is an easy way to do so. I too made my contribution. pic.twitter.com/k5DCukrH4X

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2019

Amit Shah noted that as president of a political party himself, he can say that the BJP cannot manage all its election expenses from the contributions it receives from party workers. "It is not possible," he added.

Therefore, he stressed on the need for a public debate on bringing down election expenses and more probity in poll funding. "Such an exercise will begin under the BJP leadership," he said.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the steps taken by his government to bring transparency in donations received by political parties, Shah said, "The Modi government has taken steps to clamp down on the influence of black money in politics as it has set a limit of Rs. 2,000 for cash donations". He said the government has made laws against corruption so strong that those breaking them are either caught or are sweating even in the Delhi winter.

Amit Shah also claimed that fugitive businessmen like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi are feeling the heat of the country's strict laws. "They escaped the country fearing the law would catch up with them," he said.

Highlighting Mr Upadhyay's role in the formation of the BJP, Amit Shah said, "He made a party which was not ruled by the aura of its leaders but by its party workers and organisation". Upadhyay worked to strengthen the party and for acceptance of its ideology, and emphasised that the party should not win elections by cheap means, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)