The Hindu : Cong. dividing people, says Venkaiah Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 13, 2003

National

National

Cong. dividing people, says Venkaiah Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA JAN. 12. The Bharatiya Janata Party president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, has exhorted party workers not to be "apologetic" about the Hindutva ideology but to go on the offensive against its critics.

Addressing a meeting of party workers here today as part of "Vijaya Vikas Parvam", Mr. Naidu said the party was not envisaging a theocratic state. The concept of Hindutva related to all Indians and their ancient culture, known for its religious tolerance and equality of all people irrespective of their religion, region, caste, creed or sex.

"We must feel proud of our culture by whatever name you call it, Hindutva, Hinduism or Indianness."

He expressed confidence that the BJP would win 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, continuing its victory spree started in Gujarat.

Criticising the Congress for "dividing the people on the basis of caste and religion, leading to social tensions", Mr. Naidu said Gujarat had given a clear verdict denouncing its "double standards". While the BJP had fought the elections focussing on development, the Congress, on the other hand, stood exposed by remaining silent on the Godhra violence while condemning the communal riots that followed it.

He charged the party with uniting minorities and dividing the majority community as part of the vote bank politics it had been pursuing in the last 50 years.

The Congress, which had aligned with the Muslim League and the MIM, had no moral right to talk about secularism and criticise the BJP. It was also time for a nationwide debate on "one nation and one law", he felt. Claiming that the 28-party NDA Government at the Centre was the most efficient since Independence, Mr. Naidu said it was growing stronger as it concentrated on development.

On the economic front, he said the reforms process was irreversible. The Government could not go back on its policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation as they had started yielding results.

Later, speaking to presspersons, Mr. Naidu, welcomed the election schedule announced by the Election Commission for Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

He said efforts were being made to float a non-Congress, non-Left front in the north-eastern States and that it would be finalised in a couple of days. "We are negotiating with the Naga People`s Front and other regional parties to form a united front to defeat the Congress and the Left parties".

Asked about the prospects of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, he admitted that the anti-incumbency factor might affect the party. "We are trying to overcome it by highlighting the performance of the NDA Government at the Centre and the help it had rendered to Himachal Pradesh," he said.

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