New Delhi: In a categorical assertion of the BJP's identity, its new president Venkaiah Naidu on July 15 asked party cadres not to be apologetic about their ideology even as he said the party will not impose its agenda on anyone.

"We are at present following the NDA agenda. BJP will not impose its agenda on anyone but there is no need to be apologetic about one's ideology. We are proud of our ideology and philosophy," Naidu said addressing party workers at a function to mark former Union Minister Madan Lal Khurana's taking over as the Delhi BJP president.

Political observers as also Opposition parties have been interpreting Advani's elevation as Deputy Prime Minister and appointment of former Bajrang Dal chief Vinay Katiyar as UP BJP president as indications of the BJP reviving its "Hindutva" agenda ahead of the coming Assembly polls and the general elections thereafter.

At the BJP's last National Executive in Goa, Advani had said, "party workers need not be apologetic about their ideology".

Charging the Congress with perpetuating sycophancy and dynastic rule, the BJP chief asserted that BJP was a "party with a difference".

Declaring that there was no place in the party for sycophants, Naidu said the focus now would be on "karyakarta" (worker) and to prepare them for the next general elections.

"We are a party with a difference. We are a political mission. Our political journey is only half-way through. Our motto should be nation first, party next and self last," he said.

Earlier, Khurana took over as the city unit's president from Mange Ram Garg at a gala ceremony amidst sloganeering, bursting of crackers and drum beats. The function was attended among others by deputy Union Ministers Sahib Singh Verma and Vijay Goel, party spokesman Arun Jaitley, party vice-president Harsh Vardhan, general secretary Anita Arya, Parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra, and senior party leaders and MPs.

PTI