BJP meet to focus on farm policy

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 29. The economic resolution to be adopted by the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive meeting here on January 4 and 5 is expected to focus on agriculture, especially the new policy announced by the Government.

In fact, senior party leaders admit that the BJP has not yet fully discussed the implications of the agriculture policy which speaks of ``corporatisation'' of agriculture, and on this issue serious differences could arise, especially when it concerns the main foodgrain crops.

Through the resolution the party would also respond to the charge of Opposition parties as well as some of its allies that Government policies have caused large-scale distress to farmers.

During the winter session, while the Congress had moved an adjournment motion on farmers' problems, supporting parties such as the Telugu Desam Party also strongly took the position that farmers were in a bad way with market prices having slumped, the godowns of the Food Corporation of India being full, and the farmers unable to get a remunerative price for their produce.

On the political front, the two-day meeting would take a close look at the political situation in the six States that will be facing Assembly polls in the next year and a half, and on the sidelines the all-important question of change of leadership in Gujarat is likely to figure prominently.

The executive is expected to approvingly note the Government's peace initiative in Kashmir and the serious insurgency-related situation in Assam and the Northeast.

The Ayodhya issue may figure only if some member raises it, otherwise the BJP is of the view that nothing remains to be clarified for its cadres after the clear statements by the Prime Minister that the Ram temple issue was one of ``national sentiment''. The party seems more than satisfied with this.

State party presidents, who would also be attending the meeting, will bring with them the assessment of the effectiveness of the party campaign to ``spread the Nagpur message'' (relating to widening of the support base of the party, especially among the minorities).

A detailed study would be made of municipal and panchayat elections in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh especially.

There is a view that in Gujarat the leadership may wait till after the Assembly polls in other States to make a move to change the Chief Minister, but on the other hand much will depend on what pressures come from the State unit.

After waiting for a change in Uttar Pradesh till just a year before elections are due, the party may wish to take timely steps in Gujarat to stop the erosion of its base.

Mr. Jana Krishnamurthi, party vice-president and spokesperson, today said that the two-day meeting will be preceded by a meeting of the party's office-bearers where the resolutions will be fine- tuned and final shape will be given to the agenda of the executive.

After the executive committee meeting is concluded with an address by the Prime Minister on January 5 afternoon, a meeting of State presidents is to follow the same day to work out the modalities of implementing decisions taken.

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