# Politics | Sidelined M M Joshi acknowledged by BJP, Modi on birthday: ‘Contribution monumental’

Birthday wishes to Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi Ji. A fine scholar and distinguished statesman, his passion towards service, education and preserving Indian culture is exemplary. His role in strengthening BJP is monumental. Praying for his long and healthy life. @drmmjoshibjp

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 5, 2023

Wishing Joshi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi, “His struggle to strengthen the party and his selfless and dedicated work in bringing education revolution while being the education minister are unforgettable. I pray to God for his good health and long life.”

वरिष्ठ भाजपा नेता आदरणीय @drmmjoshibjp जी को जन्मदिन की शुभकामनाएं। पार्टी को मजबूत बनाने के लिए उनका संघर्ष व शिक्षा मंत्री रहते हुए शिक्षा क्रांति लाने में उनके निस्वार्थ व समर्पित भाव से किए कार्य अविस्मरणीय हैं। ईश्वर से उनके उत्तम स्वास्थ्य व दीर्घायु की कामना करता हूँ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 5, 2023

Party president JP Nadda said, “Hearty birthday greetings and best wishes to senior BJP leader, former Union Minister, Padma Vibhushan respected Shri Murli Manohar Joshi ji. As a dedicated politician, your contribution to nation building is exemplary. I pray to Lord Shri Ram for your good health and long life.”

भाजपा के वरिष्ठ नेता, पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री, पद्मविभूषण आदरणीय श्री मुरली मनोहर जोशी जी को जन्मदिवस की हार्दिक बधाई व शुभकामनाएं।

समर्पित राजनेता के रुप में राष्ट्र निर्माण में आपका योगदान अनुकरणीय है।

प्रभु श्रीराम से आपके उत्तम स्वास्थ्य व सुदीर्घ जीवन की प्रार्थना करता हूँ।

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 5, 2023

Calling Joshi “a guide”, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted: “ I wish to god that you be healthy and live long.”

भारतीय जनता पार्टी के पूर्व राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष, हमारे मार्गदर्शक आदरणीय श्री @drmmjoshibjp जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। आप स्वस्थ और दीर्घायु रहें, ईश्वर से यही कामना करता हूं।

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 5, 2023

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said Joshi’s “selfless service towards the nation always inspires us to build a self-reliant India.”

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “Happy Birthday to Educationist, Senior Politician, Former Union Minister Shri Murli Manohar Joshi. I pray that God bless you with good health and peace.”

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, “Heartfelt birthday greetings to popular mass leader, inspiration to innumerable workers, senior member of BJP family.”

लोकप्रिय जननेता, असंख्य कार्यकर्ताओं के प्रेरणास्रोत, भाजपा परिवार के वरिष्ठ सदस्य, ‘पद्म विभूषण’ आदरणीय श्री मुरली मनोहर जोशी जी को जन्मदिन की हृदयतल से बधाई।

प्रभु श्री राम से आपके सुदीर्घ एवं आरोग्यतापूर्ण जीवन की प्रार्थना है।@drmmjoshibjp

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 5, 2023

Extending his wishes, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “May Lord Shriram’s blessings shower on you continuously; May you always be healthy, live long and may your blessings remain like this on all of us, this is what I pray.”

In 2020, Modi had met Joshi at his residence on the day and said the BJP veteran has been unwavering when it comes to safeguarding national interests and furthering national progress. He also prayed for Joshi’s long and healthy life.Modi said he is fortunate to have got the opportunity to work with Joshi for many years. “Like me, several karyakartas (workers) learnt so much from him. His role in strengthening the party is extremely valuable,” Modi added.

A prominent leader named in the Babri Masjid demolition — he was acquitted in September 2020 — Joshi held several high-profile posts in the BJP, including as HRD Minister in the A B Vajpayee government.

In August 2014, citing age as a reason, the BJP dropped Joshi among with veterans L K Advani and Vajpayee from the party’s parliamentary board, its highest decision making body. The trio had occupied the top rung of its leadership since the formation of the party in 1980. Joshi was subsequently made part of the Margdarshak Mandal along with other senior leaders “to guide the party”.

In 2015, when the BJP had lost the Assembly elections in Bihar, senior leaders of the party, including Joshi had criticised the debacle and said the party had not learnt from the Delhi polls held months prior, when the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had come to power. The Indian Express noted at the time, “He (Joshi) got the short shrift under the present leadership, which forced him to vacate his constituency, Varanasi, and contest from Kanpur. He was later included in the party’s Margdarshak Mandal. At present, he has little moral authority or political clout in the party, not even in his home state where he was once a towering figure. While today’s statement will create strong ripples in the party, his individual outburst may not have made much impact.”