M A I N   N E W S

Don’t cross ‘Laxman rekha’: Bangaru
Warning against indiscipline
From Satish Misra
Tribune News Service

NAGPUR, Aug 28 — The BJP today lashed out at the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for its "negative role" both inside and outside the Parliament.

In its political resolution tabled at the concluding day of the two-day National Council meeting here, the BJP compared the Congress to a floundering “rudderless boat” with its leadership taking refuge behind non-issues or by raising issues that can only harm the national interest.

Moving the resolution, the senior Vice-President of the party, Mr K. Jana Krishnamurthi, said the greatest achievement of the party was to offer a solid and well-welded coalition to the country.

The Minister of State for Law and Justice, Mr Arun Jaitley, also spoke on the resolution and defended the government’s Kashmir policy.

At the end of the two-day meeting, a stern warning was issued to the party cadres by the party President, Mr Bangaru Laxman not to cross the “Laxman rekha” and strictly adhere to discipline.

Mr Laxman and other leaders, who spoke on the political resolution, stressed on strengthening the hands of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in running the NDA government at the Centre.

The guns seemed to have targeted a former Central Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, who openly criticised the Vajpayee government for its inept handling of the massacre of Amarnath pilgrims by Pakistani-backed militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite criticism from a section within the party, the BJP National Council today fully backed the NDA-led government’s Kashmir policy in initiating talks with militant groups as Home Minister L. K. Advani asked critics within to shed the habit of talking in public about the government’s shortcomings.

“The BJP supports the government on its unequivocal stand and continuing battle against terrorism. We call upon the people to close ranks and back the government’s initiative on this front,” the political resolution said.

Asking the government to send a clear message to terrorists and their masters across the border that cross-border terrorism cannot remain a cost-free option, the resolution said, “at the same time the government should not hesitate to talk to those Indians who are willing to give up violence and sit across the table.....We resolve to strengthen the government’s hands in both its campaign against terrorism as well as its peace initiative.”

Addressing the session in the absence of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had to cut short his visit due to health problem, Mr Advani said, “it is time we realise that we are the ruling party and we shed the habit of pointing out the shortcomings of the government.”

The Home Minister’s remarks came in the wake of reported strident criticism of government’s handling of Kashmir issue and economic policies by senior leaders.

Expressing concern over growing indiscipline in the party, Mr Advani cautioned the partymen against airing their views in public and said the concept of family should govern ‘our conduct.’

Mr Advani said, “If there is any difference of opinion the head of the party should be consulted like we do in a family.”

He advised the party cadres to approach appropriate authorities to redress their grievances instead of airing their disenchantment in the open.

Mr Advani said the BJP had run a coalition government successfully in the past two years.

Mr Vajpayee Government had provided political and economic stability, a corruption free administration, he claimed.

The economic resolution, adopted by the party on the concluding day of the National Council meeting here, also called for a ban on cow slaughter.

Intervening during the six-hour debate on the resolution, Mr Joshi stressed on the need for swadeshi and protecting India’s interests at the WTO and fighting within this world body to rectify the imbalances.