Sanjay Vinayak Joshi
Sanjay Vinayak Joshi greets his followers
National General Secretary (Organization), Bharatiya Janata Party
In office
2001-2005
Preceded byNarendra Modi[1]
Succeeded byRam Lal
Personal details
Born (1962-04-06) 6 April 1962
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
CitizenshipIndian
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Alma materVisvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur
OccupationPolitician
Websitesanjayvinayakjoshi.com

Sanjay Vinayak Joshi is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was a long-time member of the Gujarat BJP and was a member of the BJP national executive[2] until he was forced to resign after public pressure from Narendra Modi.[3][4] During his 2001-2005 tenure as National General Secretary (Organization), he led the organization that enabled BJP to win the Assembly elections in nine states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh).[5]

Background

Joshi was born in Nagpur[6] on 6 April 1962.[7] A mechanical engineer from VNIT, Nagpur by training, Joshi was a lecturer in an engineering college, but he resigned to become a full-time pracharak in the nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Maharashtra.[8] Noting his organizational acumen, he was asked to join BJP in Gujarat in 1988,[9] where the party was politically weak. He is known for his good rapport with grass root level workers.

Joshi became a leading figure in BJP politics in Gujarat. From 1988 to 1995, he worked closely with Narendra Modi as a secretary of Gujarat BJP.[10] A former colleague, Gordhan Zadafia has said of him that he is "a silent worker with immense capability and is popular and loved by party workers, while Modi has a dictatorial attitude.".[11] Joshi was viewed as a bachelor who had dedicated his life to the party.[9]

Public feud with Narendra Modi

After a revolt by Shankersinh Vaghela, Modi was shunted out, and BJP won in the subsequent elections in 1998. Joshi became the general secretary of BJP in Gujarat. It seems Modi feels that Sanjay Joshi was instrumental in his expulsion from Gujarat.[12]

In 2001, BJP Central leadership removed Keshubhai Patel and allowed Modi to become chief minister. Since then Joshi has been the focus of several of Modi's actions.[13]

Resignation from BJP national executive

In May 2012, it was reported that Modi had called Gadkari,[14] threatening to boycott the BJP national meet unless Joshi was removed from the BJP.[15][16] In what is widely seen as an erosion of the BJP president's power,[17] Joshi was forced to resign from the BJP executive, and within two hours, Modi announced his decision to attend the BJP meet.[18] The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed his displeasure at this treatment of Joshi.[14]

In July 2012, Joshi sought security cover z++ category from the Home Ministry as according to him there was threat to his life and had received threatening letters and calls on his mobile phone from a person named Rasool Khan.[19]

In May 2013, Modi again lobbied for non-inclusion of Joshi in an important electoral committee of the BJP.[12] In his tussle with Modi, Joshi apparently enjoys the support of several RSS groups, and also former BJP chief Rajnath Singh, and others.

Currently Joshi has no assignment with BJP; He stays in Central Delhi. His place of residence is full of political activity with senior BJP leaders and party workers wants to meet him. As party man with strong backing in RSS, Sanjay joshi played an important role in organization building in Nagpur.[15]

Praise for Narendra Modi

Sanjay Joshi has given a series of statements praising the functioning of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at center and PM Narendra Modi. Joshi said Narendra Modi is my leader.[20][21][22][23]

Joshi speaking as a chief guest at a seminar - Nationalism and Indian culture, Basics of social equality organized by a group of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers and BJP workers under the banner of Deen Dayal Sewa Pratishthan on the birth of Swami Vivekananda declared that Modi is his leader and showered praise on him for getting international recognition for Yoga.[24]

Criticism of Rahul Gandhi for airing views against revocation of Article 370

Sanjay Joshi has criticised Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against revocation of Article 370 at multiple forums including the Jan Ashirwad rally in Kaithal on 2 September 2019. He praised the bold step taken by the BJP government at the centre of revoking Article 370 of the Indian Constitution while lashed out at Congress Leaders, who criticised the move.[25][26]

Ram Temple ruling

In anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling on Ram Temple, on 16 October 2019, Sanjay Joshi expressed displeasure that Babri Action Committee could not settle the issue out of court and that the matter should not have reached the Hon'ble Supreme court. Sanjay Joshi expressed that people have faith in the highest court of justice and that the common man's emotions shall be taken care of, in the final judgement on Ram Temple.

[27] [28]

Citizenship Amendment Act

Mr Joshi applauded the BJP in government bill for Citizenship Amendment Act and praised the Parliament for its smooth passage in both Houses of Parliament on 23rd Dec 2019. According to the Bill, members of the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities who have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. It also relaxes the provisions for "Citizenship by naturalisation". The law reduces duration of residency from existing 11 years to just five years for people belonging to the same six religions and three countries. In his opinion, CAA will provide much needed relief to 6 communities who have faced religious persecution in the 3 Islamic nations. The Act shall enable the 6 religious communities to lead a life of dignity in India as Indian citizens.[29]

References

  1. "The rise and rise of Narendra Modi". 13 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "Sanjay Joshi [Biography] BJP leader ~ Matpal". Matpal.com. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. Mohua Chatterjee (24 May 2012). "Modi gets the better of Gadkari, Sanjay Joshi quits BJP national executive". Times of India.
  4. "Sanjay Joshi quits BJP". 8 June 2012.
  5. "Welcome to Election Commission of India". Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  6. Anubhuti Vishnoi (22 April 2014). "The other Joshi sidelined by the BJP". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  7. "Sanjay Joshi felicitation function cancelled". The Times of India. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  8. "Joshi BJP's Draupadi, only even more wronged". Indian Express. 18 April 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  9. 1 2 http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/28bjpspec.htm quote: quote: within the BJP and the RSS, he is famous for his organisational skills and his reach... Before the sex CD incident, he was a link between the RSS and the BJP. Everybody took it for granted that he was not just a bachelor but celibate too.
  10. "Narendra Modi and Sanjay Joshi: Comrades who turned foes - Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  11. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_narendra-modi-and-sanjay-joshi-comrades-who-turned-foes_1693236 In 2005, Joshi was forced to resign following controversy over a CD purportedly showing him in poor light. The CD surfaced during the silver jubilee celebrations of the party in Mumbai. An enquiry subsequently, however, found that the CD had been doctored. Joshi was absolved, and his supporters pointed fingers at the Modi camp for planting false evidence.
  12. 1 2 "Why is Narendra Modi afraid of Sanjay Joshi?". 8 May 2013. Modi was convinced that it was Sanjay Joshi who orchestrated his banishment.
  13. Vikram Vakil (25 May 2012). "Modi and Sanjay Joshi were never meant to be friends". Rediff news.Narendra Modi and Sanjay Joshi's enmity has acquired legendary proportions in Gujarat for more than a decade.
  14. 1 2 Pradip Kumar Maitra (13 June 2012). "RSS chief upset over Joshi ouster, Modi spared". Hindustan Times SANJAY JOSHI 9829400528. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014.as pro-Joshi posters appeared in Delhi and some places in Gujarat, Modi made a telephone call to Gadkari, asking the latter to either relieve him from his chief minister’s post or Joshi from the party.
  15. 1 2 B. Muralidhar Reddy and Shoumojit Banerjee (12 June 2012). "Modi has his way, Sanjay Joshi removed". The Hindu.quote: Mr. Modi has been at loggerheads with Mr. Gadkari after the latter took Mr. Joshi back into the party after six years and tasked him with working out the strategy for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
  16. "Sanjay Joshi on comeback trail?". The Times of India. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  17. ET Bureau (25 May 2012). "Sanjay Joshi, Nitin Gadkari get another term - Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  18. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/modi-gets-his-way-joins-party-meet-after-arch-rival-joshi-forced-to-quit/953279/ quote: "I will land in Mumbai at 3:15 pm"
  19. "BJP's Sanjay Joshi claims fresh threat to life, seeks security from Chidambaram". 9 July 2012.
  20. "PM Modi is my leader: Sanjay Joshi". 13 January 2016.
  21. "Narendra Modi is my leader: Sanjay Joshi". 22 April 2015.
  22. "PM Narendra Modi is my leader, says ex-BJP General Secretary Sanjay Joshi". The Economic Times.
  23. "PM Modi is my leader, says former BJP General Secretary Sanjay Joshi".
  24. "UN declares June 21 as International Yoga Day at Modi's suggestion".
  25. राहुल गांधी की देश के प्रति आपत्तिजनक टिप्पणी को पाकिस्तान संसद करती है सराहना : संजय जोशी. YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021.
  26. "दिग्विजय व राहुल के बयानों पर माफी मांगे कांग्रेस ः संजय जोशी".
  27. "अयोध्या केस: RSS प्रचारक संजय जोशी बोले, 'Sc जनभावनाओं को ध्यान में रखकर देगी फैसला'". 16 October 2019.
  28. "संजय जोशी को उम्मीद, जनभावनाओं को ध्यान में रखकर सुप्रीम कोर्ट राम मंदिर पर देगा फैसला".
  29. "नागरिकता संशोधन विधेयक यातनाओं से मुक्ति दिलाएगा : संजय जोशी - citizenship amendment bill will get rid of torture sanjay joshi". 13 December 2019.
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