Youth should learn from Venkaiah Naidu, take the long cut—BJP chief Nabin at ex V-P’s biography launch

New Delhi: Hours after the BJP announced its organisational reshuffle Monday, party president Nitin Nabin said that although today’s generation has a tendency to look for “shortcuts”, they should learn from the likes of former Indian vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu, and take the “long cut instead”.

Speaking at the launch of Venkaiah Naidu’s Hindi biography at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi, Nabin gave a message to the country’s youth: “Today’s generation always looks for the easy way out or shortcuts to success. They want immediate or instantaneous success. However, I encourage them to learn from Venkiah ji, and choose the long and hard path instead.”

The BJP chief further said that Naidu had recently inaugurated 25 new Atal Canteens in the national capital on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, resulting in the total number of Atal Canteens reaching a hundred.

Nabin also remarked that although Naidu started out as a party worker, he never stopped working with the same enthusiasm, energy and commitment to the nation, even after being appointed as India’s Vice-President. 

“Atal ji used to say that when the darkness sheds and the lotus blooms, the contribution and struggle of lakhs of workers will ensure that the party becomes a huge party,” he said, adding that Naidu also resolved to not let party workers’ struggles go unnoticed.

Stating that the book is a lived account of what Naidu has experienced, Nabin added that today’s youth definitely needs to read it and can learn a lot from the biography.

The book talks about how a seemingly ordinary party worker prepares for the arrival of an important minister in his city, and goes around announcing the arrival of former PM Vajpayee, Nabin said. “The beauty of the BJP is that the same party worker will get to sit next to Vajpayee and Advani ji one day.”

Likening Naidu’s departure from public office to that of a mother being separated from her child, Nabin said Naidu’s commitment to the nation was so steadfast that he even went to jail during the Emergency for 17 months.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also spoke at the book launch, saying that Naidu’s official position never defined his identity. “Instead, his demeanour and warmth is what defines him. He (Naidu) would solve our problems, listen to us, and act like a guardian for many of us BJP workers. I’m a big fan of sir’s Hindi accent. His vision is crucial to our loktantra (democracy). He also continues to have a fan following across different political parties.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the packed auditorium, said that the biography will act as a historical account for the people. “To be successful in life, it’s important to adhere to certain values and principles. Naidu’s commitment to the party’s ideology is fantastic. It has always been the nation first and self last.”

Emphasising that Naidu has always been a very large-hearted man, with an unparalleled commitment towards democratic values, Singh said he was also well-known for his wit and sense of humour.

His one-liners, like “My operation depends on your cooperation otherwise there will be separation,” or “There is no order in your point of order,” would often lighten the mood, Singh said, adding that Naidu would often remark that he is retired, but not tired.

Singh also said he (Naidu) never aspired to be President, and was offered multiple portfolios, yet he ended up picking the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), so that he could work for the development of villages.

The defence minister also said that the language used by Opposition leaders nowadays was “concerning”.

“A few days back, opposition leaders said things about the Prime Minister which were reprehensible and shameful. The post of PM comes with a certain statute and dignity and they should be respectful of that,” he added.

Thanking the audience, Naidu said, “RSS made me the man I am today, and the country needs an organisation like that.”

About his early years, the former Vice-President said he hails from a humble farmers’ family, and grew up in a village. He said his message to today’s youth is to continue working hard, without thinking of the reward or the expectations, and good things will happen.

(Edited by Gitanjali Das)

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