This is an archive article published on September 4, 2019
Need leaders who can speak fearlessly to PM, says Murli Manohar Joshi
Murli Manohar Joshi made the remarks at a memorial meeting for Congress leader and former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, who died on July 28 in Hyderabad.
MM Joshi, Yechury, Singh, Raja on Tuesday. (Express Photo: Anil Sharma)
India needs a leadership that can argue with the Prime Minister on issues based on principles, and fearlessly express views without worrying whether he would be pleased or angry, BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi said Tuesday. Joshi made the remarks at a memorial meeting for Congress leader and former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, who died on July 28 in Hyderabad.
Recalling his association with Reddy during the early 1990s, when they were members of a forum of Parliamentarians on intellectual property rights, Joshi said: “Till the end, on this issue, he used to express his viewpoint at every level, whether he was a member of the forum, member of the Janata Party or member of the Congress party…he never compromised on these issues.”
The BJP stalwart said: “Mein aisa samajhta hun ki aajkal aise netritva ki bohut aavashyakata hain jo siddhandhon ke saat bebaaki ke saat aur bin kuch is baat ke chinta kiye hue pradhan mantri naraaz honge ya khush honge, apni baat saaf saaf kehte hain, unse bahas karte hain.”
“(I feel there is an acute need for such a leadership today that can, based on principles, without fear, express views clearly without worrying whether the Prime Minister will be pleased or angry, and argue with him).”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets BJP veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi at his residence in New Delhi after the BJP’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections. (ANI Photo)
Joshi said that even after Reddy became a minister in the I K Gujral government, he agreed to convey the forum’s views to the Prime Minister — and when his opinion was sought, he said “without any hesitation, in clear words, that he agrees with the proposal of the forum”.
Incidentally, Joshi was the BJP president between 1991 and 1993, when he took out an Ekta Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. At the time, Narendra Modi was the yatra’s coordinator.
Tuesday’s memorial meeting was also attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and political leaders cutting across party lines, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives blessings from Murli Manohar Joshi. (Express Photo: Renuka Puri)
Singh said Reddy stood for righteousness in his political career and opposed anything that he felt was unjust or wrong. “Whether it pleased somebody or not, he always went according to his beliefs. As a Parliamentarian, he expressed himself without compromising on whatever he believed in and he chose very specific words in his speeches,” he said.
Among the others who spoke were Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja, Sharad Yadav and Congress’s Abhishek Singhvi.
Manoj C G currently serves as the Chief of National Political Bureau at The Indian Express. A veteran journalist with a career spanning nearly two decades, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication's coverage of India's political landscape.
Experience & Career: Manoj has built a robust career in political journalism, marked by a transition from wire service reporting to in-depth newspaper analysis.
The Indian Express (2008 – Present): He joined the organization in 2008 and has risen to lead the National Political Bureau, overseeing key political coverage.
Press Trust of India (PTI): Prior to his tenure at The Indian Express, Manoj worked with India’s premier news agency, PTI, honing his skills in breaking news and accurate reporting.
Expertise & Focus Areas: As a seasoned political observer, Manoj focuses on the nuances of governance and party dynamics.
National Politics: extensive reporting on the central government, parliamentary affairs, and national elections.
Political Strategy: Deep analysis of party structures, coalition politics, and the shifting ideologies within the Indian political spectrum.
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MM Joshi, Yechury, Singh, Raja on Tuesday. (Express Photo: Anil Sharma)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets BJP veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi at his residence in New Delhi after the BJP’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections. (ANI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives blessings from Murli Manohar Joshi. (Express Photo: Renuka Puri)
