BJP Foundation Day: Stage set for BJP's mega event in Mumbai. Amit Shah addresses the gathering
The Bharatiya Janata Party will hold grand celebrations on the party's 38th foundation day in Mumbai today. Amit Shah addressed the event dedicated to 'Karyakartas' or workers he will talk to a gather of over 3 lakh party workers. The city braces for
major traffic jams ahead of the event. Mr Shah arrived in Mumbai yesterday, and was welcomed by cadres who organised a bike rally ahead of the big celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also interact with party workers on the occasion via video conference. The 'Maha Rally' at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Central Mumbai will have in attendance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among other party members who are to arrive from across the state. BJP had booked 28 trains and 50,000 private buses and vehicles for the mega event. The BJP that currently holds 21 states was reconvened to its current state in 1980 after the dissolution of the Janata party.
Here are the live updates of BJP's foundation day celebrations:
Amit Shah at the press conference of the BJP Foundation Day:
- BJP is ready to go into battlefield and will once again win with majority under the leadership of PM Modi.
- "I want to tell the Congress, BSP and all other opposition parties that they have assembled together not because they match in ideologies but only because they are afraid of PM Modi. I apologise if they felt bad, but I was only talking in context of ideologies."
- He said the BJP's aim was never a Congress-mukt Bharat but an India free of the Congress culture.
The BJP had chartered 28 trains, with 11 of them terminating on Western Railways and 17 on Central Railways, said officials. However, BJP workers alleged that their special trains were late by two to five hours as the Railways did not run them on priority: News agency PTI
Motorists, too, had a tough time during morning rush hour, especially on the arterial Western Express Highway between Andheri and Bandra, as party workers coming in for the rally by road contributed to massive traffic snarls.
Several trains arrived late after BJP workers, being ferried in special services for the party's Foundation Day rally at BKC, insisted on unscheduled halts enroute, Western Railway officials on condition of anonymity told PTI.
BJP chief Amit Shah addresses the gathering at BJP foundation day in Mumbai:
- BJP chief Amit Shah quotes Atal Bihari Vajpayee and says the country sees the "lotus" bloom across the country
- Today Narendra Modi government has brought satisfaction in every poor man's house
- "Are you asking for the accountability of the last 4 years? The people of India want to ask you for the accountability of the last 4 decades"
- BJP will never change the SC/ST act
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaks at the foundation day celebrations says, no one can snatch away reservation that are guaranteed by the constitution.
BJP chief Amit Shah welcomed by members of the party's Maharashtra members. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among others share stage with Mr Shah.
BJP chief Amit Shah arrives at the venue of BJP's foundation day celebrations. He is to address the gathering of close to 3 lakh people.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, State BJP Raosaheb Danve, Union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Hansraj Ahir arrives at the mega rally. Amit Shah is expected to arrive shortly
Slow moving traffic and jam packed roads ahead of the rally to be addressed by Amit Shah. Party vehicles crowd roads outside MMRDA grounds in BKC. People flock the streets as they arrive at the big Maha Melava
BJP chief Amit Shah in Mumbai today:
Crowd building up at BKC, the venue of BJP's mega rally in Mumbai
Senior state leaders of Maharashtra including Pankaja Munde, Vinod Tawde arrive at the venue of the rally
Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar oversees last minute preparations ahead of Mega BJP rally in Mumbai
Watch | Party workers gather at BKC ahead of the mega event. Mumbai expected to experience major traffic jams.
Stage set for the BJP foundation day in Mumbai's BKC.
Close to 2.75 lakh chairs set. People are expected to attend the event from across the country. Three parallel stages have been set up for leaders to sit. A Collection of 6 grounds were prepared for the supporters to sit. NDTV reporter on ground Saurabh Gupta says Amit Shah's address today could be a political messages ahead of the 2019 general elections and the state elections in Maharashtra.
A rangoli of Narendra Modi and Amit ShAh at the venue of the BJP foundation day rally.
NDTV's Saurabh Gupta at the BJP event as people begin to gather in huge numbers.
PM Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley among many BJP leaders tweeted on the occasion.
"For @BJP4India, the Karyakartas are everything. They are the heart and soul of the party, whose sweat has taken the Party to new heights. It is due to their efforts that we have the honour to serve people all over India and fulfil their aspirations. #IndiaTrustsBJP," the prime minister said.
People holding BJP flags arrive at Bandra Kurla Complex or BKC, Mumbai for BJP's foundation day celebrations.
Posters welcoming Amit Shah, placed across Mumbai ahead of the BJP's massive rally. The BJP chief who arrived in Mumbai yesterday tweeted thanking Mumbai for their support. "Thank you Mumbai for your love and support. Looking forward to addressing a mega event to mark the 38th foundation day of Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai," he said.
PM Modi: "I bow all BJP India Karyakartas on the special occasion of the Party's Sthapana Diwas."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tweeted on the eve of BJP foundation day. "The BJP is the party of a New India. We are privileged to receive the blessings of people of all age groups, across all sections of society. We are a Party that believes in India's diversity, our unique culture and, above all, the strengths of 125 crore Indians! #IndiaTrustsBJP," read the prime minister's tweet.
Amit Shah will address over 3 lakh workers on this day, dedicated to 'Karyakartas' in Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to address party works on the occasion via video conferencing. The event will be a show of strength for the party, and the BJP has booked 28 trains from across the state, as also 50,000 private buses and vehicles for transportation.
Mumbai Police issued traffic guidelines ahead of the BJP foundation day celebrations in Central Mumbai today. The guidelines included alternative routes that people can take to avoid huge traffic jams that are to be expected in the city today.
As Amit Shah arrived in Mumbai yesterday, a group of orphans presented a letter of gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and greeted BJP Chief Amit Shah at Mumbai Airport
BJP's to celebrate foundation day today at a grant event organised at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex in the heart of Mumbai city. BJP Chief Amit Shah arrived in Mumbai yesterday ahead of the mega event and was welcomed by BJP cadres who organised a bike rally bringing traffic to a standstill on the arterial Western Express Highway, a road that connects the Mumbai's western suburbs to the city.