The Hindu : BJP does an about-turn on ideological issues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 23, 2003

National

National

BJP does an about-turn on ideological issues

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI JAN. 22. Sharp criticism by its allies, the Samata Party and the National Conference, seems to have forced the Bharatiya Janata Party to once again make an about-turn in its stand. The party president, Venkaiah Naidu, today clarified that while its pet ideological issues were "dear to its heart'' they would not be campaign points for Assembly polls this year.

Talking informally to reporters here today, Mr. Naidu thus virtually withdrew the remarks made by the party spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, two days ago.

"Ideological issues are dear to our heart'', but during the State Assembly polls other issues such as lack of governance by the Congress-ruled States, their failure to deliver on election promises, hunger deaths, atrocities against the weaker sections, corruption and similar issues would dominate the election campaign, he said.

On January 20, Mr. Naqvi said that the three issues — construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution which confers a special status on Jammu and Kashmir and legislation on a uniform civil code — were "national issues" concerning the people and would, therefore, be part of the BJP's poll plank.

It seems that the adverse reaction by the BJP's allies has made the party change its stand.

On Tuesday, the Samata Party had reacted strongly to Mr. Naqvi's statement pointing out that while the BJP was talking about the abrogation of Article 370, which conferred special status on Jammu and Kashmir, it was simultaneously holding peace talks with the Naga rebels on the basis of Article 371-A which also gave a special status to Nagaland.

The Samata had demanded a clarification from the BJP and also warned that such statements would erode its credibility in the ongoing Naga peace process.

The National Conference was also sore, as this statement from the BJP would further weaken its position in the Kashmir Valley. Article 371-A clearly states that no law enacted by Parliament would apply to Nagaland in relation to the religious and social practices of Nagas, the Naga customary law and procedure and administration of civil and criminal justice system involving decisions according to the Naga customary law.

That would mean that while the BJP is talking of a uniform civil code and the abrogation of Article 370 being "dear to its heart", it is agreeing to doing exactly the opposite in Nagaland through a regular instrument negotiating peace.

Mr. Naidu was asked about this contradiction in the BJP's stand. He said: "Kashmir is different from Nagaland.''

He also said that when the National Democratic Alliance was put together a common programme of action was worked out as the agenda for governance at the Centre. But none of the coalition partners, including the BJP, had given up its own ideologies.

The BJP was proud of its ideology and unapologetic. Those issues were "dear to its heart" but they need not be campaign issues in the State elections.

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