The Hindu : National : `BJP has broken convention'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2004

National

National

`BJP has broken convention'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 27. The Congress today charged the Bharatiya Janata Party with having broken a time-honoured convention by reacting to the Prime Minister's overseas trip even before he returned home.

"The BJP has broken a time-honoured convention. When the Prime Minister is on foreign soil, the Opposition refrains from making critical statements which weakens the position or creates confusion... when the Congress was in the Opposition we had refrained from making any statements and clarifications were sought only on the return of the Prime Minister,'' the party spokesman, Anand Sharma, said.

Mr. Sharma said that when it came to foreign policy and national security, it had to be bi-partisan and that the statements of the BJP were both "premature and unwarranted.'' The resolve to fight cross-border terrorism was implicit when the commitment to the January 6 statement was reiterated. The Congress said the BJP statement was "politically motivated, aimed at misleading the people and trying to create a controversy without any reason.''

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's visit to the U.N. and the U.S., was "successful''.

It underscored the growing relations between India and the U.S. and it found reflection in the joint statement. The next phase of strategic partnership would also be put in place and the removal of sanctions on the Indian Space Research Organisation and the agreement on cooperation on technology transfer in space applications for civilian use were important milestones. Also Dr. Singh was able to place firmly India's concerns and position on the war against terrorism.

Mr. Sharma said the BJP was creating "social tension'' ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections by distributing literature that sought to distinguish between the majority community and others. "It is reprehensible,'' he added.

The party's State unit had drawn the attention of the State Election Commission and the AICC would also approach the Central Election Commission seeking intervention.

Mr. Sharma said the BJP was incapable of contesting on substantive issues or on political debate.

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