BJP president Rajnath Singh promised a “happy ending” to party workers and office-bearers attending the three-day party conclave in Goa, even as the party’s National Executive via resolutions heavily criticised the manner in which the Congress undermined the interests of India, both vis-a-vis internal security and external relations.
In his inaugural address to the National Executive Meet here, Rajnath Singh said everyone will go home “happy, energised and enthusiastic,” the media was informed by party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
He also urged the BJP cadre to strive for a decisive victory in the next elections.
In his inaugural speech to the National Executive, the BJP president began by expressing regret over the attack on the Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh. Talking about the issue of terrorism and Maoism, Singh said the issue had aggravated due to the “misguided policies of the Central Government”.
“Unless there is an integrated approach, there will be no permanent solution to both (Naxalism and terrorism) problems. If even after ruling for 56 years out of the 66 years since Independence, the resource rich areas are under the influence of Naxalism, the policies of the Congress are directly responsible for it,” Singh said.
“The biggest problem is that the Congress and left parties have made huge mistakes by protecting people who believe in an extremist ideology and violent activities,” he added.
Attacking the Congress, the BJP chief blamed the ruling party of being habitual of making false promises.
“Making false promises is not something exclusive to this UPA led by Manmohan Singh but it has been the DNA of all Congress Governments in the past as well,” he said.
The BJP president then went ahead to say if his party gets 10 years in power, it would change the face of the nation.
“But I would like to assure the people of our great nation, if we are given a chance to rule for at least 10 years, we will make so much difference that the need for any populist measure like Bharat Nirman or Food Security Bill will be reduced to a naught,” he said.
He also promised the formation of Telangana State, if the party comes to power.
Singh also took up the issue of Tibet and recent self-immolations, saying India should not remain “insensitive” to the “atrocities being committed on Tibetans monks”.
“In past few months hundreds of Buddhist monks have committed self-immolation in protest against the violation
of human rights by
China in Tibet... India cannot remain insensitive to the atrocities being committed on the Buddhist monks in Tibet as we share a long history of cultural affinity with this region,” he said.
Addressing media later, party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman quoting BJP resolutions accused the Congress of misleading the country on the Maoist issue. She said that while the Congress-led UPA was giving Maoists an easy hand, it was also accusing State Governments of committing human rights violations. The party’s resolution on internal security, she said, condemned the manner in which the safety of the countrymen
was compromised.
“The fight against Maoists has been badly handled,” she said, claiming that the response of the party in the wake of the recent Chhattisgarh massacre, was “shockingly inadequate” and bordering on “mischief”.
She said the BJP had evolved a long-term and multi-pronged plan to handle the Maoist crisis.
The resolution, she said, also condemned the manner in which the Congress was trying to bring the colour of religion to the issue of terror by tampering investigations in such a way that a particular religion was targeted only in order to bolster it “secular” credentials.
As far as foreign policy is concerned, Sitharaman said that the Congress had failed to create a sense of self respect for India and that the country had never been belittled in the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, due to poor external policies.
Targeting the Congress for the manner in which it handled the Italian marine situation, Sitharaman said that the National Executive resolution expressed doubt about what compromises had been made by the Congress to secure the release of the marines, who have been accused of killing Indian fishermen.
The resolution, she said, also condemned the manner in which the Indian Foreign Minister appeared keen to welcome a delegation from Pakistan even as an Indian soldier was beheaded and paraded by the Pakistan Army.
BJP’s RESOlUTION ON SURAKSHA & SWABHIMAN
Congress-led UPA II is completing its tenure placing at high risks our internal and external security. Our national stature and prestige is badly eroded. Our fishermen are being captured and killed in southern seas, our soldiers are beheaded and mutilated on our Northern borders, our boundaries are violated at will umpteen times on Indo-China borders. The latest being, the incursion by Chinese troops almost 19 km inside Indian Territory and holding its position for nearly a month. India is being dishonoured, trivialised and its legitimate authority questioned. Our Government at the Centre, at best is only offering platitudes to its citizens.
Threat to Internal Security
BJP condemns the barbaric attack carried out by Naxals on the convoy of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh on May 25, 2013. Maoism is not a one-State issue. BJP demands that there has to be a unified strategy to deal with the Naxal menace with constant consultation and cooperation of the Centre with the Naxal-affected States. There has to be appropriate strengthening of security apparatus, creation of Special Forces like ‘Grey Hound’ and a concerted and time bound action plan in place. BJP will support such a comprehensive plane to combat Maoist menace. BJP demands that the Centre Government should take immediate step to stop the flow of fund to the Naxals.
Invoking Secularism to communalise discourse on Terror
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has sought information about how many Muslims are languishing in jails on terror charges. The Assembly in Kerala unanimously has resolved in favour of the Coimbatore bomb blast accused Abdul Nasser Madani. The blast killed 60 people while it targeted lK Advani. The BJP condemns these attempts to communalise terrorism. It is in the national interest to treat terror as terror and must be dealt with full resolve.
Indian Foreign Policy on a Drift
Due to a lack of political direction, the Indian Foreign Policy is on a drift. It is unable to effectively meet the challenges faced by the country. The relations with the SAARC countries had never been as low as it is now. The goodwill that we had in Maldives is all but lost. Nepal may have not drafted a Constitution yet for itself, but it seems to want nothing from India. Sri lanka has not fulfilled its promise of devolution of power as yet. There were more than 400 incursions by China into our territory. The recent incursion in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector in ladakh was brazen. The BJP will not permit any compromise on India’s security. If any such situation may arise, it shall act as may be warranted in the national interest.