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New Delhi: Noting that some people used to ridicule the BJP over the over dates for the construction of the grand temple at Ayodhya, party chief JP Nadda on Saturday took a dig at opposition parties over not attending the Pran Prathistha at Ram Temple last month, saying "you (opposition) did not come, these were your deeds".
Addressing the BJP National Convention here, Nadda expressed confidence of the party-led NDA winning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, saying that India will become the world's third-largest economy in the Modi government's "third successive term".
Nadda spoke of the BJP's commitment to the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had led the rituals at the Pran Pratishtha event on January 22 in Ayodhya.
"We also saw the time when the national convention was held in Palampur in 1989 and it was passed there that we will explore all possibilities for the construction of Ram temple. Some people ridiculed us that we would build the temple there but would not tell us the date. Ram temple was constructed, and on January 22, 2024, the Prime Minister held Pran Prathistha of the idol of Ram Lalla ... You (opposition) did not come, these were your deeds," Nadda said.
"Jai Shri Ram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogans were raised by the BJP delegates as Nadda made remarks concerning the Ram Temple.
Congress had "politely declined" invitation to its leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the Ram Temple event at Ayodhya, saying religion is a personal matter "but the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya" and the inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS "has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain". Several other opposition leaders also did not attend the event.
In his speech, Nadda talked about the BJP getting a full majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and even a bigger majority in the 2019 general elections.
"It was after thirty years that a government with an absolute majority was formed in the country in 2014. Just after five years, in 2019, again, it was a 'Poorn Bahumat Sarkar' under PM Modiji's leadership. Today, we state with pride that the hard work and efforts of our party's leaders have turned our Adhiveshan into 'Maha Adhiveshan'!" Nadda said.
"Today BJP has become the largest political party in the world. Before 2014, we had governments in only five states and for a long time, we were stuck in 5-6. After 2014, today there are NDA governments in 17 states and only BJP governments in 12 states," he added.
Nadda recalled the contributions of leaders for whom Bharat Ratna has been announced by the Modi government.
He referred to LK Advani's role in building the party. "Lal Krishna Advani made an important contribution to building a huge party by spending his entire life. Apart from this, the wisdom with which he lived a long political and public life is an example for all of us. We also remember the service he served the country as the Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. I thank the Prime Minister for awarding 'Bharat Ratna' to such a senior leader."
The BJP chief also talked about the achievements of the Modi government over the past 10 years.
"Today, over 80 crore beneficiaries are getting free food grains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Also, the last ten years under the Modi Government have pulled around 25 crore people out of poverty, and have given these people new wings to fly. The story doesn't end here...on every front, be it health, infrastructure, education or employment, PM Modi's leadership is fulfilling the dreams of every Indian. PM Modi's leadership is truly transforming India in an unparalleled way."
He said the party has seen various phases in its growth as the world's largest political party.
"In the history of Bharatiya Jan Sangh and BJP of seven decades, we have seen every period. We have also seen the Emergency period and struggle, we have also seen the process of winning and losing elections but we all are happy that the last decade is full of achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before 2014, people used to ridicule us, asking how will you form government...they thought that this was not possible. But after 2014 our government was formed and in 2019 our government was formed again," Nadda said.
He said since 2019, elections have been held in 26 states and UTs, of which BJP is in power in majority of them.
Nadda said the party also has a good winning record in assembly and Lok Sabha bypolls.
He expressed confidence of the BJP forming a government in West Bengal and said the party won two successive assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
"I also want to add West Bengal to the list. Our vote percentage in WB was 10 per cent, and the number of seats was 3 in the Legislative Assembly, today our vote share is 38.5 per cent and the day is not far when we will come in power in the state," Nadda said.
The BJP chief said India's stature has risen in the international arena in the Modi government.
"A tale of successful G20 Presidency, a history of making 2023 the 'International Year of Millets', a journey from Mangalyaan to Chandrayaan-3, each such stellar achievement became a reality during the last ten years only. Bharat, under PM Modi Ji's leadership, is shining bright not only on the earth, but also in the sky," he said.
The BJP is holding a two-day convention here as part of its preparations for Lok Sabha polls.
