The Hindu : Maneka, Varun join BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

Maneka, Varun join BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

A GANDHI IN THE BJP: Varun Gandhi, Indira Gandhi's youngest grandson, calls on the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in New Delhi on Monday before formally joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. — PTI

NEW DELHI, FEB. 16. Maneka Gandhi and her son, Varun Gandhi, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party today at the central party office here and the BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu, and the party general secretary, Pramod Mahajan, welcomed them.

Earlier in the day, they met the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"They both wanted to work under the leadership of Vajpayeeji. We will utilise their services in a befitting manner," Mr. Naidu said. However, he parried questions on the role played by Sanjay Gandhi and Maneka during the Emergency by saying: "let us not raise old issues."

Mr. Varun Gandhi was repeatedly asked whether he considered the "foreign origin" of his aunt and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, an election issue. He said that "this is an issue but not the main election plank (videshi mool ka mudda ek mudda hai, lekin mukhya mudda nahin hai).'' He said that while he would not criticise his cousins, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadhra, he would not flinch from doing what his new party, the BJP, expected him to do.

Later, a senior BJP leader said the party might ask Mr. Varun Gandhi to accompany Mr. Vajpayee when he went to Lucknow to address a rally later this month. He is also expected to be presented to the people at a smaller rally in Maharashtra. "We will not like to over-expose him in these coming elections. We see him as an asset for the next election," a party leader said.

Mr. Mahajan was apparently instrumental in roping in Mr. Varun Gandhi.

Ms. Maneka Gandhi said that politics was a way for her to serve the people. She had remained "independent" for eight years but she had now decided to join the BJP because of its "mature leadership," which allowed people of strength and vision to blossom and grow.

Mr. Varun Gandhi recalled the historic relationship of his family with the Congress, which had "a tradition of self-sacrifice, national pride and independence of spirit." While remaining loyal to those ideals, he had decided to join the BJP so that "we can continue on a pro-active path of economic and social reform to take our place as the world's greatest democracy." He juxtaposed this with the other path, which would be "to return to populist policies and quick-fix solutions."

He said the youth had a special role to play — its energy must be added to the experience of elders, its vigour to their vision.

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

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Karnataka Assembly to be dissolved on February 23

India, U.S. clash on outsourcing issue

India, Pakistan exchange proposals

Maneka, Varun join BJP

Ruling today