Image for representationPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attended the birth centenary functions of the late Girdhari Lal Dogra, a senior Congress leader, in Jammu and Kashmir.Addressing the main function inside the Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University, Modi called Dogra a legend who belonged to an era when politicians did not work for money or power.The function, which was attended by several senior BJP and Congress leaders, was covered by most national media channels, airing his speech live. So who is Girdhari Lal Dogra?GL Dogra was a Congress politician. He is known to be a staunch Nehruvian. Dogra is also the father-in-law of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Dogra was born in July 17, 1915 in Bhaiya Village of Kathua District in Jammu and Kashmir. He pursued his education from Amritsar and Lahore.An advocate by profession, he was also a freedom fighter who later became a prominent political figure in the state. He was associated with the National Conference until it merged with the All India Congress Committee in 1964.In his close to three decades long political career, Dogra served twice as Member of Parliament and six times as Member of the Legislative Assembly. A minister for 27 years, Dogra never lost an election and presented 26 budgets in his political career, states a NitiCentral report.Modi in his speech said that Dogra had a sharp judgement of character which reflected in his choice of son-in-law. In what seemed to be an apparent dig at Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and late former PM Rajiv Gandhi, Modi said, "Son-in-laws aren't known for their father-in-laws' work, and father-in-laws' too aren't known for the work of their son-in-laws'."Writing about the leader's earlier days, Madan Dogra in a piece for Daily Excelsior writes,"Dogra Sahib returned to Jammu after completing law and joined as a junior advocate to Lala Dina Nath Mahajan, a renowned Lawyer. He also became an editor of a weekly newspaper “Kidasn” which was published from Jammu. In 1942 he joined National Conference and started taking active part in J&K politics. He along with Moti Ram Baigra of Udhampur started the movement against Begari system being perpetuated by the Raja of Chenani which forced him to abolish it. This was his first pro-poor political accomplishment which motivated him towards enduring social service."Following his successful stint as Finance minister, he was also offered the post of Lok Sabha speaker by Indira Gandhi. He reportedly declined it saying "he would not be able to serve his people by sitting on a chair," states the NitiCentral report. Dogra passed away on November 27, 1987. There were also some murmurs online about the irony in PM Modi praising GL Dogra. Mr.GL Dogra was deadly against all of us,he filed cases against RSS leaders.PM must remember this too-Subramanian Swamy,BJP on PM J&K visit — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2015PM said there should be no political untouchablility; but @narendramodi, GL Dogra had insulted SP Mukherjee; and u pay tributes to him? — Devika (@Dayweekaa) July 17, 2015Strange bhaktas, strange boss. One one hand ridicule Nehru, then pay tributes all over to GL Dogra, staunch Nehruvian, Congressi, anti-Sangh — Rahul Pandita (@rahulpandita) July 17, 2015