M A I N   N E W S

Hindutva not poll issue: Vajpayee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 24
Calling the Congress “incapable” of discharging the responsibility of protecting India’s national unity, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today exhorted the BJP to “carry all sections of our diverse society with us” and remain vigilant against attempts of enemies abroad to divide people on religious lines.

“This is not a game of winning a few more seats or winning the elections in this or that state. The party must always be guided by the lofty goal, for whose attainment we plunged into electoral politics,” he said in his concluding remarks at the two-day National Executive of the party here.

In this context, he stressed the need to make it BJP’s special endeavour “to carry all sections of our diverse society with us”. He hoped that Chief Minister Narendra Modi would fulfil the expectations of the people.

Mr Vajpayee also cautioned his party against making ‘ Hindutva’ an electoral issue and indirectly flayed some members of the Sangh Parivar for talking about making India “a Hindu rashtra.”

Mr Vajpayee said, “Hindutva can not be an electoral issue, as it is a way of life.”

Avoiding a direct comment on the pronouncement of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to make India a ‘Hindu nation’ in two years, he retorted, “Why are these things being said?” He added that since India was already a Hindu majority country, why then there was talk to make it ‘Hindu nation’.

Mr Vajpayee compared the Gujarat elections with mythological “samudra manthan” and said the hatred generated during the poll should remain a thing of the past and the party should move on, leaving behind the undesirable aspects.

He called upon the party to rise to the occasion by successfully tackling the immediate political challenges before it and, at the same time, focusing on the long-term issues of nation building.

Emphasising the need to make a special endeavour to carry all sections of society, he said, “This is not a game of winning a few more seats or winning the elections in this or that state. The party must always be guided by the lofty goal, for whose attainment we (have) plunged into electoral politics.”

Mr Vajpayee asked the countrymen to be vigilant against India’s enemies abroad who were trying to divide it on religious lines and “make a brother fight a brother.”

Exhorting the countrymen to maintain peace and tranquility in the face of provocation anywhere in the country, he referred to the era of terrorism in Punjab, which was foiled by maintaining unity.

Calling upon the party to be ready for the pitched electoral battles in many states in 2003, the Prime Minister suggested that while taking up state-specific issues, the party should also highlight the achievements of the NDA government in the various spheres of development.

Telling the meeting that the BJP “bears the responsibility of protecting India’s national unity, strengthening national security and ensuring all-round national development, the Prime Minister said, “The Congress is incapable of discharging this responsibility”.

Mr Vajpayee called upon the party to be prepared for pitched electoral battles in a number of states in the coming year, adding that state-specific issues and the achievements of the NDA government rule at the Centre must be highlighted.

The Prime Minister called upon the BJP to tackle the immediate challenges before the party and, at the same time, focus on the long-term issues of nation building.

At the same time, Mr Vajpayee distanced himself from praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the podium in contrast to other prominent leaders of the party.

The Prime Minister chose to congratulate the people of the state for giving a renewed mandate to the BJP in the recently held elections. He attributed this victory to “the many decades of tapasya of our workers and the good work done by out governments.”

Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani said even if there had been no Godhra, the Narendra Modi government would have secured a renewed mandate because of its achievements.

He described the BJP government in Gujarat under Mr Keshubhai Patel and later under Mr Modi as “an honest government, and a caring government.”

Chiding the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for unleashing a campaign of calumny and hatred against the BJP in the wake of Godhra and post-Godhra violence, he said it had made the Gujarat electorate angry and became a cause of landslide victory for the BJP.