PM Modi Pays Heartfelt Tribute to VK Malhotra, Calls Him a Pillar of BJP and Jana Sangh
PM Modi commemorates VK Malhotra, highlighting his leadership and dedication to public service.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tribute to veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V. K. Malhotra, who passed away on September 30 at age 93, describing him as an exemplary organiser and institution builder. In a poignant blog post on his website, Modi celebrated Malhotra’s decades-long contribution to public life, emphasising his seamless navigation of electoral and organisational politics. Malhotra’s leadership in the Jana Sangh and the BJP’s Delhi unit, particularly from the late 1960s, left an indelible mark on Indian politics, Modi noted, highlighting his tireless dedication as a karyakarta (worker).
Modi recalled Malhotra’s significant electoral triumph in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, when he defeated Congress heavyweight Manmohan Singh in South Delhi with over 50% of the vote. Despite facing intense opposition, Malhotra maintained a positive campaign, leveraging his deep grassroots connections and understanding of voter aspirations. “He never reduced the level of discourse,” Modi wrote, crediting his victory to his ability to foster close ties with party workers and resonate with the electorate. This win underscored Malhotra’s stature as a formidable leader who combined ideological commitment with electoral acumen.
The Prime Minister highlighted Malhotra’s role in embodying the ethos of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Jana Sangh, and BJP—marked by courage, selflessness, and devotion to national and cultural values. Malhotra was a vocal advocate during the cow protection movement in the 1960s, enduring police brutality, and a steadfast figure in the anti-Emergency movement of the 1970s. His support for the Sikh community during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi further exemplified his commitment to unity and compassion, Modi stated.
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As an institution builder, Malhotra’s legacy extends to nurturing cultural, educational, and social organisations under the RSS umbrella, fostering talent and promoting a vision of a self-reliant society. “These institutions became nurseries of talent and service,” Modi wrote. Malhotra’s passing marks the end of an era for the BJP, with his contributions continuing to inspire the party’s rank and file. As tributes pour in, his life serves as a testament to principled leadership in India’s political landscape.
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