BJP leader criticises ‘current state’ of Gujarat, ‘This is not BJP culture’

Hemaben Acharya, a veteran BJP leader, has expressed disappointment at the current policies and political tactics of the ruling party – BJP.

Amid the upcoming municipal and local body elections in Gujarat, Hemaben Acharya, a staunch supporter of the Jan Sangh and former Health minister in Government of Gujarat from 1975 to 1980, has expressed her anguish over BJP securing unopposed victories, thereby depriving people of their right to vote.

She has strongly criticised today’s ‘BJP culture’, stating that if this situation continues, democracy is heading toward an emergency-like state. Her remarks have caused a political upheaval within the BJP.

“This is not BJP’s culture”  

At 92 years old, former health minister and Jan Sangh veteran, Acharya stated, “This is not BJP’s culture at all, and this is not the BJP we built. Today’s BJP is going against its own principles.”

Acharya and her husband, Suryakant Acharya, laid the foundation of BJP in Gujarat. Many prominent leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, stayed at their residence, and they played a crucial role in establishing the Jan Sangh and BJP. 

She is particularly displeased with BJP’s strategy of bringing leaders from other parties into its fold.

BJP has lost its core values  

Expressing her discontent, Hemaben remarked, “Defectors should be immediately suspended by the Election Commission, and a permanent ban should be imposed on them. Chimanbhai Shukla, a BJP pioneer in Rajkot Municipal Corporation, protested against party-switching for days, which had a significant impact. BJP has lost its core values, and there is nothing left to say about today’s BJP. People like us are left suffering in silence.”

Moving toward emergency

Speaking further about BJP, said, “Earlier in BJP, the principle was ‘not me, but you.’ I remember an incident in 1975 when three ministers in the Janata Morcha government said, ‘Give it to them, not me.’ But today, the situation has changed—everyone wants everything for themselves. If people don’t wake up now, the coming days will be disastrous. The public must intervene and select candidates wisely. Even if a good candidate has a minor flaw, that’s acceptable, but there should be no uncontested victories. In a democracy, voters are the rulers, and they must have their rights".

"Unfortunately, today’s candidates prioritise their personal gains over public welfare. I remember the Emergency period, and the current circumstances are eerily similar. We are moving from democracy toward an emergency. The essence of democracy is being destroyed. Instead of bringing genuine reforms, true democracy is about solving people’s problems, not just implementing uniform policies.”

Women are not safe in Gujarat  

The political atmosphere in Gujarat has heated up following Acharya's sharp criticism of her own party. Acharya, whom Narendra Modi has regarded as a mother figure, has voiced her concerns about the insecurity of daughters in Gujarat. 

Expressing her anguish over incidents like the Payal Goti case and the atrocities against Adivasi women in Dahod, she stated, “We never imagined such a Gujarat. Atrocities against daughters are increasing, and politics is being played over their suffering.”

Expressing her outrage, she added, “Despite all the talks of women empowerment, women are not safe. Women and young girls are being exploited in politics, which is a very serious issue.”

Speaking about the Payal Goti case, Acharya said, “A daughter became a victim due to the sins and internal conflicts of political leaders. Imagine her mental state and the pain of her parents. If I were her mother, I would have taken the law into my own hands, regardless of the consequences. When any daughter in society suffers, the entire community must rise above caste and unite to raise their voice. In the current scenario, neither sons nor daughters are safe at home or on the streets. Every day, new criminal gangs are emerging in Gujarat.”

“I never imagined this Gujarat”  

Expressing her grief over Gujarat’s current state, Acharya said, “I never imagined a Gujarat or a country like this, where fake officials, fake leaders, and even fake courts exist. Seeing all this in today’s situation is heartbreaking. Leaders have no control over the system, and if they do, they lack the willpower to act. Instead of competing in elections, political parties are engaged in internal conflicts. Rather than making new laws, the existing ones should be implemented properly. When legislators and parliamentarians themselves turn into criminals, how can we expect good laws from them?”

“People are now powerful only in name”  

She concluded by saying, “People are only ‘supreme’ in name. Their voice and rights should matter for them to be truly supreme. However, people are not opposing such policies because they are struggling to make ends meet. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are becoming poorer, creating a dangerous divide between them, which is a serious concern for the future.”