The Hindu : National : BJP resolution faults Centre's handling of internal security

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004

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National

BJP resolution faults Centre's handling of internal security

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 26. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party today finalised a hard-hitting political resolution finding fault with the United Progressive Alliance Government's handling of internal security issues.

The subject fits in neatly with the party's new emphasis on "nationalism" and the BJP's endeavour will be to project the idea that India is "not safe" in the hands of the UPA Government, senior party leaders hinted. In fact, over the last few days the issue of "internal security" has been raised by the BJP repeatedly and jihadi terrorism is also a favourite subject of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The resolution, to be adopted at the party's National Council session here tomorrow, was finalised today after a meeting at the residence of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP president, L.K. Advani, the outgoing president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, were among those present.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, will be one of the three speakers on the political resolution. This is another indication that the party will give a new thrust to "ideological orientation," a euphemism for Hindutva.

The other issue discussed today was the composition of the new team of party office-bearers to be announced by Mr. Advani within a day or two of the national council ratifying formally his taking charge as party president.

New faces likely

BJP leaders hinted that the general secretary, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, could be replaced by the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti. Since both belong to Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Chauhan will have to be accommodated elsewhere. The name of the former Union Minister and Karnataka BJP leader, Ananth Kumar, is also being mentioned in the list of "probable" new faces. If he is brought in as general secretary then one more current general secretary will have to make way since the party constitution allows only five general secretaries.

There is much speculation about the general secretary, Pramod Mahajan, who planned and led the party's Maharashtra election campaign. He himself has hinted that he may prefer to work in tribal areas. If he is dropped as general secretary, it will be a signal from the party that it is because of the debacle in Maharashtra.

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