BJP president pays tributes to Jan Sangh leaders

BJP President Amit Shah today hailed the sacrifices made by leaders of erstwhile Bharatiya Jan Sangh, noting that it had taken his party to the position where it is today.
It was because of the sacrifices made by these leaders, including Jan Sangh founders Dr.Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Jagannath Rao Joshi, who hailed from Karnataka, that the party with 10 members at initial stage, has now grown into a 10 crore-member organisation (BJP), Shah said.
Jan Sangh was formed opposing the policies of Jawharlal Nehru, he said at the inauguration of a memorial of Joshi here in Gadag district in north Karnataka.

Jan Sangh was formed keeping in mind the principles of Chatrapati Shivaji and Maharana Pratap and Guru-Shishya system, in the field of defence and education policies, respectively, he said.
Lauding the sacrifices made by Rao, Shah said he was a tall political leader from RSS and among the finest orators of his generation.
"His contribution to building Jan Sangh and BJP in Karnataka earned him the epithet "Karnataka Kesari" (Lion of Karnataka)," he said.
Rao said earning people's respect is far more bigger than getting honoured by Padma awards. "It is important to be honoured with Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards given by the President but earning respect from people is bigger.