New Delhi, Feb 11 (UNI) Paying homage to RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhayay, BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday said one of the founding leaders of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the saffron party, had always disapproved politics of hook and crook to win elections.
"Unhone aisi party ki kalpana ki thi, jo chunao ke liye ochchey hath kandey na apnaye. Balki vichar dhara ki swikriti aur sangathan ki shakti key adhar par chunao jitey (Deendayal Updhayay had imagined of a party which will not resort to hook and crook to win elections. Rather the focus should be on organisational strength and ideological commitment)," Mr Shah said addressing a party function here.
The function was organised to observe Samarpan Diwas - Dedication Day - in honour of Late Upadhayay.
Born on September 25, 1916, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya breathed his last on February 11, 1968.
In his speech, BJP national president strongly advocated for 'clean money' politics and said envisioned by Deen Dayal Upadhayay, the saffron party must run with contributions from its workers and not on donations of "money bags, builders and those with black money".
"Deen Dayal Upadhayay also had envisioned of a party whose base will be workers and not leader," he remarked.
"If means are not pious then our party's goals cannot be attained. The party has to be kept pure... If the party starts running from the money of money bags, builders, contractors, those with black money, then it will malign all our means to realise party's goals," Mr Shah said.
He said BJP workers should say with pride that "we run this party from our own money and no industrialist, contractor, money bag or builder can run it".
The remarks are significant especially on a day a galaxy of BJP leaders, Chief Ministers and Union Ministers led by no less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi donated Rs 1000 each to the party fund.
Mr Modi took to Twitter and posted saying earlier in the day that he has made contribution of Rs 1000 to the party fund.
"Deen Dayal Ji emphasised on honesty in public life. Today on his Punya Tithi, BJP is starting a movement Samarpan Divas to further transparency and clean money in politics," Prime Minister said.
Mr Shah also contributed Rs 1000 to the party fund and so did leaders including Smriti Irani, Biplab Kumar Deb and Jual Oram among others.
Mr Shah in his address referred to the Modi government's crusade against corruption and said the efforts have already started showing results.
In reference to some business magnates who have indulged in bank loan frauds and left the country, the BJP president said: "Earlier those who indulged in corruption had nexus with those in power, so they never had to flee. But now 'chowkidar (in reference to PM Modi)' has taken strong steps and those who indulged in loot had to flee India)".
UNI DEVN RSA 1504