|
BJP to focus on national security |
 |
BJP president Rajnath Singh has said that the party has chalked out a nationwide programme to mobilise public opinion on the issues of national security and disrespect for the national song, Vande Mataram. Addressing a news conference in Dehradun on Sept. 10, he said the objective of the programme is to awaken nationalism and expose what he called pseudo-secularism. Rallies and demonstrations will be organised in all parts of the country from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2. Observers say the BJP objective appears to be to use the Vande Mataram and terrorist attacks as its poll plank for the coming Assembly elections in four states.
Rajnath Singh accused the Manmohan Singh Government of making what he called a mockery of the nation’s security by adopting a softline towards anti-national elements. He said the peace process with Pakistan has been totally derailed and the Prime Minister should have the courage to tell Islamabad that there could be further peace initiatives only after it eliminated the terror modules operating from its soil.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, who is supposed to be the BJP’s chief-ministerial candidate in the coming Assembly elections in the state, has said that sharp-edged Hindutva will be the key plank for the party’s campaign. At a meeting in Lucknow, he ruled out the possibility of the BJP supporting any other party in government formation in Uttar Pradesh. He said the party would prefer to sit in the opposition if it failed to get a majority.
BJP blow to George Fernandes
The BJP has disapproved of the critical comments made by the National Democratic Alliance convener and Janata Dal (United) leader, George Fernandes, about the functioning of the Bihar Government.
“We are partners in the Bihar Government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. “We disapprove of and disagree with Fernandes’ comments about Nitish Kumar and the Bihar Government.”
However, while disassociating the BJP from the statements made by Fernandes, Prasad preferred not to comment about Fernandes continuing as NDA convener. “That is for the NDA to decide.” He also added that what was happening in the JD (U) was an “internal matter” of that party, but the BJP could not remain a silent spectator while the Bihar Government was being criticised, for it was a coalition partner.
On September 8, during a tour of Bihar, Fernandes described the style of functioning of Nitish Kumar and JD (U) president Sharad Yadav as “autocratic” and “dictatorial”. He had also criticised the tie-up between the JD (U) and the Apna Dal for the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, although the decision was approved by the JD (U) national executive.
|
