No Dilution On Ayodhya, Says Govindacharya
The BJP will not dilute its basic commitment on Ayodhya, Article 370 and uniform civil code if the BJP secured majority on the basis of its manifesto, e party general secretary K N Govindacharya said yesterday. However, the BJP had the intention to take its coalition partners along even if it secured a majority on its own, he carefully added.
His assertion is likely to create problems for the BJPs alliance partners who have expressed strong reservations against the BJP on these issues. Samata Party President George Fernandes had recently stated that these issues could not be included in the common minimum programme that could form the basis for running a BJP-led coalition government. BJP President L K Advani recently said that the BJP would include its alliance partners in a coalition government even if it secured a majority on its own.
He had, however, refused to categorically state whether or not the party would dilute its core issues for the CMP.
Why we should dilute our basic commitment in the manifesto, if the BJP is voted to power on its own, Govindacharya said. The BJP intended to secure majority on its own strength and manifesto, though it was contesting the elections along with its alliance partners, he explained.
If at all it occurs in a post-election scenario that the BJP did not secure a majority...in that compelling situation we will strive to work out an honest coalition. In that context, the need for a Common Minimum Programme shall not be ruled out, he said.
The BJP had been consistent it its stand on these three issues, he stressed and claimed that the reiteration of this policy would not alienate the Muslim community. He alleged that the BJPs adversaries had tried to paint the party as a monster and claimed that the minority community had realised the truth.
After seeing good track record of governance in the BJP ruled states, this community changed their impressions and became favourable to the BJP. They understood that justice for all and appeasement for none was a fact not a slogan for the BJP, he claimed. Advanis swarna jayanthi rath yatra brought Muslims inspired with nationalism nearer to the party, he added.
The BJP leader further claimed that the Muslim communitys psyche had changed after the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. The prevailing perception that the incident was a watershed that drifted Muslims away from the BJP was not true, he said.
It exposed the pseudo-secular parties and the Muslims, particularly the younger ones, realised that these parties merely used the community as a vote bank, he said. One this psyche was shattered, the community realised that the majority sentiments needed to be respected for brotherhood, amity, peace and prosperity, he added.