The Hindu : Hindutva not our poll plank: BJP chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 09, 2003

National

National

Hindutva not our poll plank: BJP chief

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH FEB. 8. The Bharatiya Janata Party will implement the National Democratic Alliance's agenda without any dilution or alterations, and Hindutva will not be its election plank, the BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, said here today.

Addressing the BJP State Executive meeting, he said that development, equitable progress and the Opposition "failure" would be the BJP's election agenda, but not Hindutva. The BJP felt that "appeasement" of the minorities was improper and they would be treated on the same footing as the majority population and granted equal rights, respect and opportunities.

Ruling out any special considerations for them, he said that the message was made clear in Gujarat.

The BJP was keen on spreading the Hindu nation's culture and lifestyles, but was not in favour of a Hindu state on religious lines. In Indonesia, the names of people, streets, banks etc. originated from Hindu mythology, although it had a larger Muslim population than Pakistan. He urged partymen not to be apologetic on the BJP's philosophy, but take pride in it.

Calling for a nationwide campaign against infiltration to curb ``demographic invasion,'' Mr. Naidu said the BJP would adopt a three-point programme of "detecting infiltrators, deleting their names from voters' lists and ration cards and deporting them from the country". Infiltration from Pakistan and Bangladesh was posing a threat to national security, arousing social tensions besides burdening the nation's economy and natural resources. The problem was alarming in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

He charged the Congress and the Left parties with adopting "divergent stands" in different States and at the national level. Terrorism was affecting the economy and social harmony, he said and wanted the fight against terrorism waged by both the Government and the people.

On the Ramjanmabhoomi issue, he said that the V.P. Singh Government had acquired 60 acres of undisputed land and was prepared to hand it over to the Nyas. He wondered why those silent during the land acquisition at that time were raising a "hue and cry" now.

Only 2.6 acres of land was in dispute and the Supreme Court had to decide whether the land belonged to Hindus or Muslims.

Mr. Naidu advised the Congress and communists to give up `vote-bank' politics and act constructively on the issue. He favoured a national debate on the distortion of facts in history books under the influence of the Congress and communists and said that remedial measures were being taken.

He called for the mobilisation of public opinion against religious conversions. The people were free to convert themselves to any religion individually, but had no right to force others to do so.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National