LK Advani's talks on Deshmukh at Jayaprakash Narayan event forces PM Narendra Modi to speak on Sangh idealogue

NEW DELHI: It was a rare odd moment for PM Narendra Modi, handed out by none other than Margdarshak LK Advani. While the stage was set for Modi to wax eloquent on Emergency and activism of Jayaprakash Narayan as it was his 113th birth anniversary, Advani softly put it out that Sunday was also Sangh ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh’s birth anniversary.

And, as though to make up for what may appear a lapse, Modi and his cabinet colleagues went on to speak reams on Deshmukh and the government’s plans to commemorate him.

Advani had said, “I want to congratulate the PM for visualizing a programme like this. We have organised this programme today because of the birth anniversary of JP Narayanji. I also want to mention that Nanaji Deshmukh, who also worked for RSS and later on went to actively participate in politics for years, shares his birthday today,” he said, adding, “The way in which he devoted his entire life in the service of the nation, I can say that he was one of our great leaders who participated in our freedom struggle.”

Minister Venkaiah Naidu was quick toadd year-long events willbe held in memory of Nanaji in 2016.

PM Modi, who had already tweeted about Nanaji’s birthday on Sunday morning, dedicated a big part of his speech to lauding Deshmukh’s efforts to make JP’s movement succeed and said that he had once put his own life in danger to save JP’s life. He also praised Deshmukh’s efforts to set up “Jaya prabha gram” named after JP and his wife Prabha. “When we remember likes of Gandhiji, Narayanji, Nanaji, we always think about integrating the villages, Nanaji was someone who fulfilled JP’s dream of sampurna kranti.”

After settling score on Nanaji, the speakers went on to heap praises on Jayaprakash Narayan. The event, ‘Loktantra Prahari Abhinandan’ (Save Democracy Day) was after all held in his memory and to honour those who were imprisoned during the emergency laid down by the Congress government in 1975-1977.

Meanwhile, PM’s comparison of Punjab CM Parkash Badal with Nelson Mandela has kicked up a storm, with Congress ridiculing Badal claim he has spent 20 years in prison for peace in Punjab.