New Delhi: On Thursday, shortly after LK Advani wrote in a blog that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had never regarded those opposed to it politically as "anti-national" or "enemies", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was proud of the BJP veteran. Modi said Advani had perfectly summed up the BJP's "true essence" in his blog, which he wrote two days before the foundation day anniversary of the party. Modi tweeted, while sharing the link of the blog "Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last.' Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it,".

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In his blog, Advani wrote that the BJP had regarded those opposed to it only as adversaries, and not as "anti-national" or "enemies". Advani, 91, wrote "The essence of Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression. Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries,". The BJP veteran’s remarks have come at a time when the party’s leaders have accused opposition leaders of speaking the language of India's enemies like Pakistan over the issue of Balakot air strikes and Pulwama terror attack.

PM Modi, party president Amit Shah and other senior leaders have targeted political rivals like Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee for speaking the voice of Pakistan, after they questioned the reported casualty figure of terrorists in Balakot air strikes. In fact, some of the BJP leaders have even dubbed opposition leaders as "anti-national". "Similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as 'anti-national'. The party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level," Advani wrote.

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