India needs leadership that can fearlessly debate with the prime minister, says senior BJP leader MM Joshi

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said on Tuesday that India needs a leadership that can fearlessly debate with the Prime Minister based on principles, reported The Indian Express. BJP leader made the remark at a memorial service organised for Congress leader and former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, who had passed away in Hyderabad on July 28.

Recalling his association with Jaipal Reddy in the 1990s, “Till the end, on this issue, he used to express his viewpoint at every level, whether he was a member of the forum, member of the Janata Party or member of the Congress party…he never compromised on these issues,” said Joshi.

“I feel there is an acute need for such a leadership today that can, based on principles, without fear, express views clearly without worrying whether the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] will be pleased or angry, and argue with him,” he said.

Murli Manohar Joshi was the BJP president between 1991 and 1993, when he was heading the party’s Ekta Yatra. Narendra Modi was then the organiser of the event.

In his speech on Tuesday, Murli Manohar Joshi also sought a revival of talks across party lines, “Earlier, there were multiple forums which had people from different parties where they tried and formed opinions on national and international issues. Those attempts have become scarce, in fact, are almost finished. It is important to revive such practices,” he said, reported Hindustan Times

Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi were also present at the memorial service.