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Katiyar arrives in U.P. to hero's welcome

By Our Special Correspondent

Vinay Katiyar on his arrival at Lucknow on Wednesday after he was appointed the new BJP chief of Uttar Pradesh. — Photo: Subir Roy

LUCKNOW JUNE 26. The newly-appointed Uttar Pradesh BJP unit president, Vinay Katiyar, was accorded a hero's welcome on his arrival here today amid religious ceremonies and shouting of slogans of "Jai Shri Ram'' and "Har Har Mahadeo''.

A group of sadhus from Ayodhya had specially arrived at the BJP office here to perform the puja. Mr. Katiyar in his address to the BJP workers profusely quoted from the Hindu mythology to emphasise the political role of the BJP in the new situation. As he narrated various anecdotes from Ramayana to make political points, the BJP workers rent the air with slogans applauding him.

Mr. Katiyar said that he would no longer tolerate the humiliation of BJP workers. And if the bureaucracy tried to ignore the BJP workers, it would have to face problems. The bureaucracy must remember that politics never remained static. The situation went on changing continuously and officers should always be cautious of this fact.

He said the political alliance between the BJP and the BSP was comparable to an offering of the flower lotus (the election symbol of the BJP) to Lord Ganesha (the election symbol of the BSP being elephant). But he warned that the relationship between the two parties could remain normal as long as they were prepared to function with pure intentions. He advised his party workers to exercise restraint and work with the spirit of coalition. However, in case of need, the BJP could also be quite stiff in its dealings.

For the quarrelsome elders in the party, Mr. Katiyar had a message too. The elders were like Jamwant (the old Minister of Sugriva as mentioned in the epic Ramayana), he said and urged them to extend their cooperation in strengthening the party.

Lalji Tandon, Om Prakash Singh, Hukum Singh and Sheema Rizvi, senior Ministers, were present at the railway station to receive Mr. Katiyar. The outgoing president, Kalraj Mishra, and the BJP Legislature Party leader, Rajnath Singh, were conspicuous by their absence.

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