M A I N   N E W S

Ram temple not poll issue, says Venkaiah

Mumbai, June 20
The BJP today said it favoured holding of the Lok Sabha polls “as per schedule” and going along with the NDA allies even as it sought to play soft Hindutva demanding a ban on cow slaughter and asking the Centre to exert pressure on states to pass anti-conversion laws.

Addressing mediapersons on the conclusion of the four-day brainstorming session of the party, the BJP President, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, said the conclave studied and reviewed the government and party’s performance as “only 15 months are left for the poll, which would be held as per schedule.”

“We are happy about the party’s position in different parts of the country. We have good relations with allies with some exceptions. We are leading a 23-party coalition and we have to go along with the allies,” Mr Naidu said.

Asked whether the party would raise the Ayodhya issue during the elections, the BJP chief said: “We don’t fight elections on Ayodhya. It is not an election issue but a matter of faith for us and we want a grand temple to be constructed there.”

Mr Naidu said even though the party had not given up the three issues of Ram Temple, Article 370 and Uniform Civil code, but being a member of a 23-party NDA “we are committed to the coalition and the national agenda for governance.”

He said the meeting also decided to have improved relations and coordination with RSS-inspired organisations. “We want to have good relations with all nationalist organisations and the VHP is also a nationalist organisation,” he said amidst reports of strained relations with the outfit championing the cause of the Ram temple.

To a question on the differences between the VHP and the BJP on Ayodhya, he said: “It is not necessary that we agree with each other on every issue. Our views may differ.”

Besides demanding a country-wide ban on cow slaughter, Mr Naidu also asked the Centre to “exert pressure” on the state governments to pass legislations banning “planned conversions being carried out in different states.” He also demanded immediate scrapping of the Illegal Migrants Detection Tribunal (IMDT) Act to check infiltration from Bangladesh into Assam.

Earlier, addressing the valedictory session, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, called upon party workers to strengthen the organisation and gear up for next year’s general elections.

He also dwelt on Indo-Pak relations and peace initiatives undertaken by the NDA government to strengthen ties with the neighbouring country. Mr Advani also elaborated on efforts being made by the government to counter the menace of cross-border terrorism.

Appreciating the Prime Minister’s latest peace initiative with Pakistan, Mr Naidu said while pursuing dialogue, the government should “crush terrorism mercilessly with an iron hand.”

Referring to the Muslims who had been keeping away from the party, he said the BJP wanted to reach out to them and did not equate them with Pakistanis. “Pakistan is a separate country and we cannot link the Muslims with that country,” he said.

In what is being seen as further rehabilitation of sidelined senior party leader Pramod Mahajan, the BJP President said he had been assigned to review the performance of all 182 sitting MPs in their respective constituencies.

Besides, Mr Naidu along with Mr Advani would also have a separate sitting with the MPs to take stock of the party’s position in their constituencies. PTI