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Join debate on Hindutva, BJP chief tells Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Feb. 13. The Bharatiya Janata Party has appealed to the Congress and the Left parties to join a national debate on secularism and Hindutva.

At a media interaction here today, its president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, said such a debate was important in view of the diverse perceptions of political parties on the concept of secularism and Hindutva. Similarly, a consensus on other issues such as terrorism, infiltration and religious conversions was also necessary.

On the Congress and the Left parties blaming one another for the growth of the BJP, he said "there is truth in what they say. Both are responsible for our growth.

However, it is basically because of our ideology, cadre and leadership.''

Both the Left and the Congress were in a dilemma about their ideology and political approach, leading to contradictions.

A clash of ideas was visible within the Congress, particularly after the Gujarat polls, which was evident from the "politically significant'' observation of the Kerala Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, that the party "should not be seen as going against the mood of the nation.''

Some were in favour of redefining secularism and Hindutva. It was in this context that a national debate assumed importance.

The Congress attacked Hindutva on the one hand and toed a soft Hindutva line on the other, Mr. Naidu said.

Its Chief Ministers sought a ban on cow slaughter, attended Ram Katha and planned "Siva Jayanti'' (Chatrapathi Shivaji). It was this "pseudo secularism, minorityism and appeasement," which was responsible for the decline of the Congress and marginalisation of the Left. The Congress "doublespeak'' was evident on issues such as religious conversions, use of POTA, handling of terrorists, infiltration etc.

It was an irony, Mr. Naidu said, that the Congress should oppose POTA, but demand that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Pravin Togadia, be arrested under the same law. If the Congress and the Left did not introspect and "rectify'' their mistakes, their downward drift would continue.

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