Date:24/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122405760900.htm

National

Mental bankruptcy of BJP leadership: Congress

Special Correspondent

Says by harping on Muslim appeasement it wants to consolidate its traditional vote bank

LUCKNOW: The Congress on Saturday dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh's announcement that his party would bury Muslim appeasement in the next 10 years as a reflection of mental bankruptcy of its leadership.

It reminded the BJP president of his unfulfilled promises during his stint as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

U.P. Congress Committee spokesman Dvijendra Tripathi said that by raising irrelevant issues, which were divorced from reality, the BJP was trying to divert the people's attention from the infighting among the party leaders. By harping on "Muslim appeasement" theme, the BJP wanted to consolidate its traditional vote bank but the fact of the matter was that the party had always betrayed the majority community.