The Hindu : National : BJP will have new president in New Year: Naqvi

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Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005

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BJP will have new president in New Year: Naqvi

Special Correspondent

Three-day national convention in Mumbai from December 28 to take decision

HYDERABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party will have a "new president in the New Year" and its three-day national convention, beginning in Mumbai on December 28, will decide on the successor to L.K. Advani. The convention will be preceded by a two-day national executive meeting.

This was stated by BJP national vice-president Muktar Abbas Naqvi in response to questions on the leadership issue at a press conference here on Tuesday.

The national executive and convention would discuss the political, economic, social scenario, including the national and international security situation.

Main issues

Terrorism, naxalism, separatism and the "confused foreign policy of the Central Government, unemployment and education" would be the main issues on the agenda.

The meetings would also chalk out an "aggressive and effective" programme against the "anti-people policies of the United Progressive Alliance and the Congress Party."

Soft on terror

Charging the UPA Government with adopting "soft and friendly policies" in tackling terrorism, naxalism and separatism, he said about 18,000 innocent people were killed by terrorists and naxalites during the 18-month UPA rule. Mr. Naqvi demanded that the Government "reconsider" its "friendly policies" towards terrorists, extremists and separatist forces.

Quota for Muslims

He described the five per cent reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh as a "drama." It was not meant for socio-economic uplift of Muslims but for securing votes for the Congress. On the demand for separate Telangana, he said the BJP neither favoured nor opposed it and would spell out its stand at an appropriate time.

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