The Hindu : Ayodhya not the only issue, says Venkaiah Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003

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National

Ayodhya not the only issue, says Venkaiah Naidu

By Our Staff Reporter

JAMMU JUNE 23. The Bharatiya Janata Party national president, Venkaiah Naidu, said today that his party would support any breakthrough achieved by religious leaders and would want the Ayodhya tangle solved early.

"Ayodhya may be the main political issue for many parties in the coming elections but the BJP has other issues to take to the people.

The party has worked hard to build its organisational structure in every part of the country in the last one decade and it would forcibly articulate its achievements," he said.upporting the efforts of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, he said: "two Cabinet Ministers discussed many issues with the Acharya. Various means are being tried to solve the tangle. If anybody can pull out a solution without a judicial verdict we would support it. The BJP stands for a solution."

On the assertion of the Acharya that the Ayodhya tangle would be solved by July 6 when he meets the representatives of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, he said, "the party wants an amicable solution."0he timing of general elections was discussed at the party's chintan bhaithak recently.0 "But we have not been able to decide on it." Playing down his own statement of projecting the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, he said: "My statement has attracted unusual media attraction. The issues is well settled now and I do not want to create further controversy."

Along with the prime issues of development of the States going to elections, the party would also highlight the achievements of the Vajpayee Government at the international level.

"It is only through the able leadership of Mr. Vajpayee India is now taken into confidence on every international issue."

The party's clear stand on Pakistan was that any dialogue should start on the issue of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

`Undecided on basic issues'

The party is undecided on the three basic but contentious issues — temple, abrogation of Article 370 and common civil code — it had to give up to form the National Democratic Alliance.

"We are working on the next general elections. Our foremost task is to come back to power. The entire organisation is working on coming to power with 300 seats," he said.About his meetings with the RSS sarsangchalak, K.S. Sudershan, he said: "We discussed the Ayodhya issue with him. The RSS position was explained to us and we gave our version. The discussion centred around the latest developments."

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