Poonia’s book ‘Agnipath Nahi, Janpath’ also launched in Gujarat
The Sunday Mail
Surat, January 18, 2026. An inspiring message, highlighting the strengthening of Indian democratic values and the true meaning of public service, resonated in Surat, Gujarat on Sunday. The occasion was the launch ceremony of the book ‘Agnipath Nahi, Janpath’ by Dr. Satish Poonia, BJP Haryana in-charge and former State President of Rajasthan BJP. This book was launched in Surat, Gujarat, after Jaipur and Delhi, witnessed by prominent dignitaries from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana residing in Gujarat.
Addressing the book launch ceremony, Dr. Poonia said, “Politics is not a path of fire, but a path of public service. It is the medium through which the voice of the common people is strengthened.” He clearly stated that instead of running away from politics, there is a need to understand and embrace it, because without politics, the voice of the people cannot be raised in the assembly.
Dr. Poonia said that during his tenure from 2018-2023, he was a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. The people of Amer elected him as their MLA and sent him to the assembly. Later, the BJP central leadership entrusted him with the responsibility of the BJP Rajasthan President. Thus, along with being an MLA, he also got the opportunity to work towards strengthening the BJP organization in Rajasthan. During this time, as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, he received guidance and leadership from senior and experienced leaders like Gulab Chand Kataria and Rajendra Rathore, who had a deep understanding of parliamentary traditions. Together, they raised their voices against the anti-people policies of the Congress, from the streets to the assembly, organized movements, and vociferously raised issues concerning youth, farmers, and public interest in the assembly. Thanks to this, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government was formed in Rajasthan in 2023, which is working to fulfill the resolve of a developed Rajasthan. He said that when he was the state president of BJP Rajasthan, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot was the Chief Minister. During a recent meeting on a flight, Gehlot told him that “Gulab Chand Kataria, Rajendra Rathore, and Satish Poonia, the three of you together orchestrated protests and demonstrations against our Congress government in the state, and raised issues in the Legislative Assembly. Because of this, our Congress government fell, and the BJP government came to power. I accept this. The three of you created such a storm against our Congress government, from the streets to the assembly, that we were forced out of power.”
He said that politics is indeed difficult, but if the objective is service, then it becomes the most powerful tool. My book, ‘Agnipath Nahi Janpath’ (Not the Path of Fire, but the Path of the People), prominently highlights what a legislator is, what responsibilities a legislator has for their constituency after being elected, how to raise issues of public interest, and how to participate in the legislative process. All these democratic aspects are prominently featured, which are not only important lessons for a new legislator but also something our new generation needs to understand about the work of a legislator.
The people elected me as a legislator, and the BJP central leadership honored the youth and farmers of the state by making me the state president of a large state like Rajasthan. I am grateful to the party’s top leadership for this.
Highlighting the purpose of the book, he explained that it has been written to overcome hesitation, boost self-confidence, and introduce the positive aspects of politics to the new generation. It attempts to encompass the changing political work style, experiences in public life, the emotions of the first and last days in the Legislative Assembly, and the journey of organizational responsibilities.
Referring to his personal life, Dr. Poonia said, “I never thought that I would become a legislator from near Jaipur and get the opportunity to become the state president of a vast organization like the BJP.” Recalling the COVID-19 period, he said that it is important to convey the spirit of service and the struggles of that time to future generations so that they can understand how society faced such a global pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged all state units of the BJP to create a digital book documenting the service work undertaken by the party for the needy during the COVID-19 pandemic, from Rajasthan to across the entire country. His aim was to ensure that the acts of public service performed by the BJP for millions of people during the pandemic reach future generations, so that if a similar disaster or calamity strikes in the next 100 years, we know how to handle it and how India can overcome it. This is because Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only managed and strengthened India during the pandemic but also stood by numerous needy countries around the world, providing relief materials and medical and other essential facilities. This is something our new generation needs to learn.
