The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : BJP has no issues of substance: Vaiko

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

BJP has no issues of substance: Vaiko

By Our Special Correspondent

The MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, with his grandchildren at Singaperumal Koil on Sunday. _ Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI, SEPT.12. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary, Vaiko, today said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in a "total mess", and devoid of any issues.

Mr. Vaiko, who is on a 1025-km "Renaissance March" from Tirunelveli to Chennai, told reporters at Singaperumalkoil, 50 km from here, that contradictory views expressed by the BJP leaders showed that the party was in the throes of an "ideological crisis."

Replying to questions on the BJP's decision to launch a series of protests across the country to highlight what it called the "tainted" Ministers issue, he said the party leaders were in search of issues but without any success. "One day they announce that they will focus on the Hindutva ideology and the next day they somersault. As they are not able to find any issue, they are blowing hot and cold", he said.

On the future of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in the State, he said it was a strong combine, as proved in the last Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Vaiko said he was focussing on social issues during his padayatra, and made it clear that the padayatra was not launched with an eye on votebank politics.

However, he had told the people that they had the power to end the "corrupt, repressive and anarchic" All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) rule.

He was quite confident that the electorate would give a decisive verdict in favour of the DPA headed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, M. Karunanidhi, in the next Assembly poll.

Mr. Vaiko described the Renaissance March, which commenced on August 5, as a "marvellous success." The "response was beyond our expectations," he claimed.

Commending the 3000-odd MDMK activists, who took part in the programme, he said hewould announce the future course of action for them at the proposed rally in Chennai on September 15 to mark the culmination of the padayatra and the birth anniversaries of the late leaders, E.V. Ramasamy and C.N. Annadurai, he said.

Mr. Vaiko, who took the salute at a guard of honour by presented by the MDMK volunteers, also had a game of volleyball with them.

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