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Thursday,
December 26, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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BJP to focus on development for HP poll BJP minority leaders
in a bind Border security to be tightened: Modi |
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Prayers, festivity mark Xmas Iran’s diplomatic rebuff to Pak Pervez has no moral right to preach: BJP Decision on Karnataka session today: BJP Navy to go in for rescue vessels
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BJP to focus on development for HP poll New Delhi, December 25 The party’s central leadership has also sounded a stern warning against factional feud and has asked two of its top Himachal leaders — Union Minister Shanta Kumar and Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal — to work unitedly for the success of the party. In an exclusive interview Mr Naidu spoke about the key issues in the coming polls. The success in Himachal Pradesh will be the benchmark for the BJP’s poll strategy in other state poll, especially Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh later next year. Excerpts of the interview: Q: Will Hindutva will be the BJP’s poll plank in Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections? A: Our main aim will be to implement the Gujarat experience in Himachal Pradesh which means demonstrating the same kind of unity and aggressiveness as seen during the Gujarat poll. Moreover, we will go to the people with confidence and approach the electorate with our performance. People will be explained about our performance and the performance of the Opposition in the past. We will also be explaining to the people about the misdeeds and failures of the Congress because some of the Congress-ruled states are going to the polls in the next one year. The Congress-ruled states are riddled with corruption and misrule and these will be highlighted. We will be fighting the elections basically on the platform of development and the double standards of our political opponents including their pseudo-secularism versus our cultural nationalism. Q: What do mean by cultural nationalism? A:
We are proud of our culture and heritage and when we talk of cultural nationalism it does not belong to a particular religion. The entire people of the country, irrespective of caste, creed and religion are one...we have our heritage and tradition which we are proud of and want to preserve it. Even Jawaharlal Nehru in his speech had mentioned it. The Supreme Court has also defined what is Hindutva. It is a way of life and what we are talking is not religion but the way of life which has been there for years together in this country. Q: But what would be your main plank for Himachal Pradesh poll? A: The main plank in the Himachal elections will be the developmental plank, the performance of our government. We have very good performance. We have discussed it in the national executive meeting of the party also. However, other national issues would also come up. The Gujarat victory slogan “Justice for all but appeasement for none” and the need to tackle terrorism effectively will also be an important poll plank. Tackling terrorism will be a very important issue in Himachal as there are lots of servicemen and ex-servicemen who have great concern for security, unity and integrity of the country. Moreover, Himachal is a sensitive border state and there has to be complete harmony between the Central government the state government there as the state always needs the support of the Centre. Q: There is a general perception that the big problem for the BJP is from within as there is bitter factional feud in the Himachal unit. Your comments. A: Myself and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani have made it clear to all during the National Executive Committee meeting that the Gujarat experience should be followed. However, the Gujarat experience has been wrongly interpreted by some people. The Gujarat example means unity, clarity and everybody is working together for victory, better management of the campaign and exposing our political opponent. Q: There has been bitter feud between Union Minister Shanta Kumar and Himachal Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal on the delimitation issue. Will it not have a negative impact? A:
The delimitation issue is over now. Both leaders are now going to work together for the success of the party. There is not going to be any problem on that count. We have told both of them that differences between the two is not good and they should work together. They have said that they will work together. So, there is no problem on this count at all. Q: When are you going to formally launch the election campaign in HP? A:
Mr Dhumal has started a “vikas yatra” and we want that to be completed. Secondly, I have asked General Secretary Arun Jaitley to go to Himachal and discuss with the state unit leaders. So, it would take some more weeks to decide on that. Moreover, we are awaiting Election Commission’s notification. But this Vikas Yatra is a step in the direction of campaign. Q: What will be the methodology of selecting candidates for the poll? A: I have asked my people to follow the steps adopted in Gujarat. First hold discussions with the state unit members and then hold further negotiations with the core group and arrive at a broad consensus on candidates before going to the party election committee for ratification. This approach had proved very good in Gujarat and has come for appreciation from all quarters. So, I have told the Himachal state unit to begin informal consultations and prepare the ground. Q: In Rajasthan although the party won all three byelections, there has been dissidence against the newly appointed state unit President Vasundhara Raje. Your comments. A:
There could have been one or two voices. But I had sounded the strongest possible warning to all members during the National Executive meeting against airing their personal opinion in the open. It is not going to help the party and beyond a point the party will not tolerate this kind of activity as the party has already paid a severe price in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, such people should be careful, after all the party is everything. However, I don’t find we have any major problem in this regard in Rajasthan. Q: Ms Raje is holding two posts — one as Central minister and another as BJP Rajasthan unit president. This is violative of the one person one post norm. So, when is she going to take charge solely of party work? A: I can’t give you a firm reply now but a decision in this regard will be taken at an appropriate time. |
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BJP minority leaders
in a bind New Delhi, December 25 This is the widespread feeling among the party’s minority leaders, who did not want to be identified. They said they might find it extremely difficult to retain their Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 general election in the prevailing surcharged scenario. For all outward appearances, these youthful leaders’ euphoria connected with the BJP’s stunning win in Gujarat is laced with a sense of remorse and helplessness. They are also highly perturbed with the fiery statements of certain RSS and VHP leaders aimed at alienating the minorities. One of the minority leaders was at pains to emphasise that all efforts to woo the minorities in the past three to four years had suffered irrevocably with the strident Hindutva ideology. It is evident that these minority leaders find themselves in a stand-alone situation, with the hawks in the BJP and the Sangh Parivar having upstaged those believing in a liberal outlook. Now that the din and dust of the Gujarat campaign has died down, these minority leaders maintain that it might well be an insurmountable task of overcoming the Gujarat experiment, which is going to be replicated in other states. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee endeavoured to make amends at the concluding session of the BJP National Executive meeting yesterday that one must give up hardline Hindutva and swallow the poison generated in Gujarat. Observers here view Mr Vajpayee discounting the talk of a Hindu “rashtra” and that India can never be a theocratic state as fresh efforts are on to befriend the minority community. At the same time, the Prime Minister’s voice gets drowned by those toeing a strident opposite line. At the same time, it is widely acknowledged in BJP circles that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi must pull up his socks and show tangible results on the ground within a year. It is in this context that BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu’s observations in the BJP National Executive, that Gujarat should emerge as a model state by ensuring “justice to all and appeasement to none,” assume significance. Sources said Mr Venkaiah Naidu had set a benchmarck of 300 seats for the BJP in the 2004 general election and expressed grave doubts if this could be achieved with the minorities turning the other way. |
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Border security to be tightened: Modi Ahmedabad, December 25 In his maiden press conference after assuming power, Mr Modi said he always addressed the five crore people of Gujarat and not any particular section. He also advised the media to concentrate on developmental issues. Mr Modi said he planned to complete the pending projects, including the Narmada Dam, increase power production and set up subject-wise universities. The Chief Minister said that border security was essential and considering the neighbouring country’s activities, internal security should also be strengthened. He stressed the need for human resources development and progress in biotechnology and marine engineering. He said water harvesting is one of the essential factors and in the next five years, efforts would be made to increase the number of check dams from the existing 20,000 to 1.5 lakh. He said the government is planning a project to more effectively use river water for drinking and irrigation purposes. The government would also develop the state coastline for tourism, he said. Mr Modi said it would be made mandatory for the new houses in the state to make arrangements for rain water harvesting. The government would try to convert coal-based power projects into gas-based ones, he said. Mr Modi said the government would take stringent measures against irregularities in financial institutions and the cooperative sector. Gujarat, with its entrepreneurship, can easily achieve the GDP target set by the Planning Commission and for this, the state has to concentrate on developing the agriculture sector, he added. Many ministers, Chief Secretary G. Subbarao and other bureaucrats were present at the press conference.
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Prayers, festivity mark Xmas New Delhi, December 25 Celebrations to mark the birth of Lord Christ were held in atmosphere of gaiety and religious fervour. Midnight Mass was held at several big and small churches across the capital including the Sacred Heart and St James Cathedrals and the Church of North India and Evangelical Church of India. A special inter-faith meeting was also held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi in the afternoon as church leaders used the joyous occasion to emphasise His message of compassion, brotherhood, sacrifice and simplicity. Youngsters put up traditional Christmas pageants and congregated in several areas for carol singing. Market places also wore a festive look with shops selling cakes and confectionery and traditional Christmas trinkets such as stars and bells doing brisk business. Some even had put up big Christmas trees and had bell-ringing Santa Claus doing the rounds much to the enthusiasm of children. The churches were also illuminated in the evenings to add to the festive cheer. In Mumbai, at the stroke of midnight, Mumbai Archbishop Ivon Dias led the congregation in a Christmas Mass at the cathedral here. A Christmas tree was lit and greetings were exchanged. Governor Mohammad Fazal, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal extended greetings to their Christian brethren on the occasion. In Pondicherry, midnight and early morning mass was conducted in all churches to mark the occasion. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy took part in the midnight Mass at the Fathima Matha Church in his Thattanchavady constituency. Lieut-Governor K.R. Malkani extended his greetings to the Christian brethren and hoped that they would uphold the ideals of universal love and brotherhood. In Andhra Pradesh Christmas was celebrated with religious fervour and traditional enthusiasm. Archbishop of Hyderabad M. Joji led the main Mass at St.Mary’s Church. Christmas was celebrated with gusto in Tamil Nadu today. Governor P.S. Ramamohan Rao, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and leaders of political parties, including DMK President M. Karunanidhi greeted the Christian brethren on the occasion. Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta has greeted the people of Nagaland on the occasion of Christmas. Hills in Meghalaya resounded with midnight Mass and services and Christians in large number gathered at various churches here to celebrate Christmas today. Meghalaya Governor
M.M. Jacob and Chief Minister F.A. Khonglam wished the state’s people on the Christmas and the eve of New Year. Bihar Governor Vinod Chandra Pandey and Chief Minister Rabri Devi greeted the people on the occasion of Christmas.
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Iran’s diplomatic rebuff to Pak New Delhi, December 25 It is understood that Mr Khatami has conveyed to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf his concern about the regrouping of Taliban and Al-Qaida cadres in Pakistan and the alleged covert help being extended to them from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Mr Khatami also gave a diplomatic rebuff of sorts to Pakistan when he raised the issue of ethnic strife. In diplomatic circles here, this comment of Mr Khatami is taken as Iran’s displeasure at the shabby treatment being meted out to Shias in Pakistan. General Musharraf’s appeal to Iran to mediate between India and Pakistan to settle the Kashmir issue also is taken with a pinch of salt. Diplomatic observers see this as a not-so-veiled attempt by Gen Musharraf to use the vehicle of Islamic brotherhood. It is understood that the Iran-to-India oil pipeline project came up during Mr Khatami’s discussions with the Pakistani leadership with both sides having different points of view. Iran is believed to have conveyed to Pakistan that it should do its utmost to make this project a success as in the event of an overground oil pipeline passing through Pakistani territory — the cheapest of the three options available— Pakistan stands to get royalty worth $ 1 billion per annum. India, however, is wary of the overground project in view of the security considerations and also because it has tangible apprehensions that the money Pakistan earns as royalty from the oil pipeline is eventually going to be used by Islamabad in anti-Indian activities. Iran, the only Shia-dominated Muslim country in the world, had traditionally good relations with Pakistan but in past one decade these relations have soured to the extent that some years ago they were virtually on the verge of war. |
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Pervez has no moral right to preach: BJP New Delhi, December 25 “Pakistan is accusing us of engineering violence. What about the condition of minorities and others in that country where they enjoy no right to live?” asked Mr Naidu. Earlier, Mr Naidu while speaking at party unit function here appealed to political parties to give up a confrontational attitude and negative agenda and join hands to take the country forward and make it a strong nation. Mr Naidu also attended a function at the Delhi unit office and a school run by an NGO, where blankets were distributed among blind children. |
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Decision on Karnataka session today: BJP Bangalore, December 25 Senior party leader B S Yediyurappa told newspersons here that the session was only an “eyewash” for the Krishna government to cover up the facts relating to the brutal killing of former Janata Dal Minister H Nagappa by forest brigand Veerappan. Stating that a judicial inquiry into his killing would not bring out the facts, the BJP leader said the government was hiding several facts, including the meeting of JD leader Ponnachi Mahadevaswamy with the brigand, and claimed that Agricultural Processing Minister Raju Gowda was also involved. He informed that the BJP legislature party would meet tomorrow to decide on the next course of action. Besides the hostage crisis other issues that would be raised during the protest included fake stamp-paper scandal, in which Mr Yediyurappa claimed that some ministers were involved, poor drought relief measures and failure to resolve the Cauvery water issue. The party would also launch a statewide protest against the Government tomorrow with a rally being planned in the city.
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Navy to go in for rescue vessels New Delhi, December 25 After finalising qualitative requirements, the Indian Navy has approached the French and German firms for technical details and budgetary estimates for the DSRV, official sources said. “Technical presentations have been made by these firms as the Cabinet Committee on Security approval is being sought,” they said. At the same time, officials did not rule out that India could talk to the US firms for the acquisition. The Americans claim the most frontline technology on the submarine rescue. The DSRV would be the second biggest project pending clearance of the CCS after the finalisation of the estimated $ 2 billion deal for purchase and transfer of technology for the French Scorpene submarine. Though the Indian Navy has a flotilla of 19 submarines, it has no deep submergence rescue vessels and to overcome this void, India entered into a tie-up with the USA in 1997 for utilisation of the US Navy Global Submarine Rescue fly away kit. However, the tie-up had unilaterally been held in abeyance by Washington after the sanctions imposed on New Delhi post Pokhran nuclear tests. While New Delhi and Washington have resumed military-to-military contacts, which snapped post Pokhran, leading to the USA lifting some of the sanctions, American officials continue to blow hot and cold over the 1997 naval tie-up. After waiting for over two years for Washington to change its mind, the government keeping in view the country’s limited submarine rescue facility has finally given the nod for the DSRV project. Officials said government would acquire the two sets of DSRV’s even if Washington were to revive the naval tie-up. Though Washington has been slow on the DSRV project, the US government has been more than forthcoming on the supply of the Weapons Locating Radars ANTPQ-37. Under the ‘Letter of Offer and Acceptance’ signed in April this year between the two governments, USA will start delivery of eight ANTPQ radars from July 2004 to be completed by July 2005.
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In
video: Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi outlines a development agenda for the state, giving
priority to education, irrigation and electricity. (
