BJP raises Hindu issues at Vrindavan meet

The BJP Saturday pledged to oust the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh as a two-day meeting of its state leadership started here voicing concerns about issues related to Hindus.

Describing Vrindavan as the land of Lord Krishna who battled injustice, party leader Kalraj Mishra said the "oppressive state government has to be replaced by a people-friendly government".

"Our only goal is to form a BJP government in Lucknow," added state party president Laxmikant Bajpayi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Uttar Pradesh executive is meeting less than three months after the BJP swept the Lok Sabha election in the state, winning a staggering 71 of the 80 seats. Its ally won two seats.

Party leaders said the meeting will roll out a roadmap for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh due in 2017 but which many in the BJP hope will take place earlier.

Bajpayi told IANS that a membership campaign will begin across the state early next month.

Without naming anyone, Mishra said "some elements and forces are conspiring to break the nation through various policies of appeasement".

Bajpayi accused the Samajwadi Party government of being partisan and sectarian. He said the religious conversion of Hindus and disappearance of Hindu girls were issues of concern.

Referring to power shortages in Uttar Pradesh, he said: "Lagta hai sarkar ka fuse udd gaya hai." (It looks as if the government has tripped.)

He said the party's strength in the state assembly had gone down as some legislators got elected to the Lok Sabha.

"We need to work harder to win the seats going to polls next month," he said of the scheduled assembly by-elections.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow, will address the concluding session Sunday.

BJP president Amit Shah was to open the conclave but he could not make it due to other engagements, a party spokesperson said.