Sources close to Advani, who along with Murli Manohar Joshi was conspicuous by his absence at the function, claimed that the party patriarch was not "officially" invited and merely got a general text message about the event. They also stressed that it was under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani that the BJP was founded on April 6, 1980.
Significantly, while BJP president Amit Shah did make a mention of Advani's contribution to the party while talking about the BJP's "illustrious history", this could not keep those sympathetic to him from seeing a pattern to further diminish the patriarch who has been on the margins because of his defiance of the overwhelming wish of the ranks to project Narendra Modi as the party's PM candidate in the last Lok Sabha polls.
This is the second time in three days that Advani's non-participation in a key party functions has struck a controversial note. During the concluding session of the party's national executive in Bengaluru, the veteran did not make his customary "guidance speech" — an unprecedented event in the history of the party. Sources said Advani had expressed his reluctance to speak when he was sounded out by a senior party functionary, and expressed dismay that an impression was sought to be created that the veteran had been affronted.
The party refused to react to the allegations, but a functionary dismissed the charge that Advani was ignored. "These are all false allegations being spread by those whose time is over in the party. They want to unnecessarily create a controversy. No special invite is ever sent to any member of the party on foundation day. A general message is sent and those who are in Delhi were requested to attend the function," a source said.
Earlier, PM Modi chose the occasion to thank his supporters and workers for BJP's historic victory in the last Lok Sabha polls and its ascent as the world's largest political party. In a tweet greeting supporters and party workers, Modi said, "On the BJP's 'Sthapana Diwas' my greetings to all the BJP karyakartas and well-wishers. BJP's phenomenal growth is due to the efforts and hard work of generations of selfless karyakartas who devoted their lives to our nation."
Modi added that the party would "leave no stone unturned to fulfill people's aspirations and create an India that is strong, developed and inclusive".
For a party that began its electoral innings with just two Lok Sabha seats in 1984, winning a majority with 282 seats in 2014 has been a historic achievement. Almost one year into the government, the party has created another history by adding 9.50 crore members and becoming the largest party in the world.
Having begun its political innings as Jan Sangh way back in 1951, BJP was founded on April 6, 1980 after it was thrown out of Janata Party for refusing to sever ties with the RSS.
Shah captured BJP's triumphs rather eloquently, saying, "What began as a party of 10-12 people under the leadership of Dr (Syama Prasad) Mookerji has today transformed into the world's largest party with almost 10 crore members. At that time (in 1951), no one thought that this party would one day form a government with full majority. It was formed then merely to influence policies of the state with a different viewpoint."
With the government under fire from opposition over the land bill, Shah asked partymen to vigorously counter the campaign of "disinformation and falsehood" launched by rivals and be prepared for sacrifice.
"Today, on the party's foundation day, I appeal to you to work unitedly to make this government successful and take its work to people and counter disinformation and falsehood spread by the opposition," he said.
The BJP chief said the Modi government had laid a strong foundation and will take the country forward in a way that it becomes a world leader in the coming times. "I am confident that when we seek mandate for another term under Narendra Modi, we will get even a better one," he said.
He, however, clarified that nobody in BJP hankered after power. "We are fortunate to have a leadership tradition in which people made sacrifices and spent their entire life for the country... This party was not formed to make anyone the prime minister. This party was formed to make India the 'vishwa guru' (world leader)," he said.
Taking a dig at AAP for "marketing" the "aam aadmi", Shah said, "Today, some people talk of simplicity and about being an 'aam aadmi' (common man). I want to tell you, we had such leaders who never had a bank account all their life, never had a home of their own and made the party office their home, had no family but made the entire nation their family."
BJP, he said, was the only party with "true" internal democracy where even a simple worker can reach the top. The BJP chief cited the example of Modi, who has risen from a tea seller to the prime minister. Likewise, Shah said, he had inched his way to BJP president after starting out as an ordinary booth-level worker.
Several Union ministers including Venkaiah Naidu, Thawarchand Gehlot, Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP general secretaries Ram Lal and Bhupinder Yadav, besides senior leader V K Malhotra were present.
A photo exhibition depicting BJP's journey has also been organised at the party headquarters.
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