The Hindu : ``Reshuffle betrays BJP's intentions''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 03, 2002

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National

``Reshuffle betrays BJP's intentions''

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR JULY 2. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said today that the elevation of L.K. Advani as Deputy Prime Minister and changes in the Union Cabinet and the Bharatiya Janata Party's organisational set-up had made it clear that hardcore Hindutva was going to be the agenda of the BJP-led Government at the Centre.

Addressing a press conference here, the party's politburo member, Sitaram Yechury, said the BJP was trying to consolidate the National Democratic Alliance and also whip up communal passions keeping in view the Assembly elections in nine States next year and the general elections in 2004.

``The whole purpose was aimed at `Modi'fication' of the country by creating Narendra Modis in all the States,'' he said.

The appointment of Vinay Katiyar as president of the BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit also indicated that the pracharaks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh would now be heading the party's other State units.

Observing that Mr. Advani would now have effective control over the Government, Mr. Yechury said the BJP was trying to revive the Hindutva card to strengthen its vote bank as the NDA Government had failed to live up to the expectations of the people on all fronts.

With Mr. Advani gaining prominence, the Government would now be playing the role hitherto played by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, which "posed a real danger to the country.''

On whether Mr. Advani had been made the Deputy Prime Minister as the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was not keeping good health, Mr. Yechury said it had been done at the instance of the RSS and not because of Mr. Vajpayee's health condition.

Mr. Yechury was accompanying the Left parties' Presidential candidate, Lakshmi Sahgal.

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