The Hindu : Front Page : BJP focus on UPA’s ‘divisive politics’

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Thursday, Sep 20, 2007
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BJP focus on UPA’s ‘divisive politics’

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s three-day national executive committee starting on Friday in Bhopal is expected to focus on what the BJP calls “divisive politics” of the United Progressive Alliance.

A senior party leader commented on the party’s plank for a mid-term Lok Sabha election, if it were to take place: “70 per cent Sachar, 30 per cent Sethu.” That summed up the BJP’s “divisive politics” plank.

Moves to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations, attempts made to give reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh, refusal to bring back a terrorism-specific law such as the repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act, and, on the other side, the perceived “insult” to Hindus as in the now withdrawn government affidavit on Ram Sethu issue submitted to the Supreme Court, are to be projected as two faces of the same coin: “minority appeasement” by the UPA even as it does not bother with “Hindu sentiments.”

Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said here on Thursday that this was expected to form the core of the BJP’s political resolution to be adopted at the Bhopal meeting.

However, some BJP leaders who are not sure how far this will go as an electoral issue. The BJP does not want to get caught out, like it did with the Shining India and Feel Good slogans in 2004. To address issues directly affecting people’s lives the party is planning to adopt two more resolutions: one focussing on the problems of poverty in rural areas and farmers’ issues and the other on internal security.

Besides, on the sidelines senior leaders are bound to discuss the possibility of a mid-term poll. For this the party has already declared itself to be in election mode. A review of its ongoing programme to ensure the presence of dedicated BJP workers at every polling booth throughout the country will take place at the executive meeting. Reports from the States, especially those approaching elections such as Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, will be given special importance.

On internal security, the BJP is expected to reiterate its line, statistics notwithstanding: Its own NDA government came down heavily on terrorism while the UPA is “soft” on terrorists. On the rural poverty issue, the BJP will focus on the continuing suicides by farmers and the wheat imports issue. It has been saying that while the government paid Rs. 850 a quintal to Indian farmers it paid double that rate for imported wheat.

The Bhopal executive may not see the presence of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as he has not been well since his recent hospitalisation. “It will depend on his doctor’s advice,” Mr. Javadekar said when asked whether he would attend the Bhopal meeting.

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