The Hindu : NDA allies in an identity crisis: CPI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 01, 2003

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National

NDA allies in an identity crisis: CPI

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 31. The Communist Party of India has charged the BJP and the Sangh Parivar outfits with challenging the secular fabric of the country and lamented the "surrender" of the allies in the NDA to the BJP. "The BJP allies, except for making some noises occasionally to show their independence, continue to surrender to the dictates of the BJP or are forced to quit the alliance in humiliation and helplessness. They are all in a deep ideological and identity crisis," an article in the latest edition of the party organ, New Age, said.

The NDA was an effective device for the BJP to "deceive" its allies as well as the people to consolidate its position. "But, for the allies, it is a device for self-deception and self-destruction," the CPI national executive secretary, D. Raja, said in the article.

Considering the latest reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers and the stand taken by the Government before the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry, he said the BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu's claim of carrying "the BJP flag in one hand and the NDA agenda in the other" was a "well-crafted strategy to hoodwink the allies".

The BJP had seized every opportunity to tighten its grip on the Government and its various wings and also held all key Ministries responsible for decisions and implementation of crucial economic and social policies. "The allies are given the opportunity to play the second or third fiddle or forced to get out of the coalition." Referring to the Vajpayee Government's stand before the Liberhan panel that Ayodhya was the birthplace of Lord Ram was an undisputed fact, the CPI said it had become clear that the BJP had no respect for the judicial process. At a time when archaeological excavations were going on under the directive of the Allahabad High Court, the Government stand was "an effort to intimidate the judiciary and influence its verdict".

"One can understand the Shiv Sena's attitude...What about the other allies such as the DMK, the MDMK, the PMK, the JD (U) and the Samata Party and also the TDP? Do they support the BJP's stand? When the BJP is posing a grave threat and challenge to secular democracy, how can these allies remain passive? Can and will they force the Vajpayee Government to submit a revised affidavit before the Liberhan Commission?" the article asked.

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