The Hindu Business Line : Advani to step down as BJP chief in December

According to a copy of his concluding statement at the BJP's National Executive here on Sunday, he said that he had accepted the responsibility in October 2004 because Mr Venkaiah Naidu had some personal problems. "I have decided, however, that after the Mumbai session, I shall demit office, and the party's stewardship should be taken over by some other colleague."

Mr Advani then drew a distinction between the role of the BJP and the RSS. The BJP leadership had no hesitation in consulting with the RSS but its decisions are independent and may differ or have differed from that of the RSS and constituents of the Sangh Parivar.

But of late there was an impression that no political or organisational decision can be taken without the consent of the RSS. Both the RSS and the BJP must dispel this impression for their own good, he said.

The RSS should continue to play its role to strengthen the ethical, moral and idealistic moorings of the workers and the BJP functionaries, and this would be in the larger interest of the nation. But the BJP as a political party is accountable to the people, its performance being periodically put to the test in elections.

So in a democracy an ideologically driven party like the BJP has to expand its reach to large sections of the people outside the layers of the ideology while keeping its stance intact. Those in the political field and those serving the society in other fields have to function with unity and trust, he said.

Mr Advani also said that he deemed it a proud privilege to preside over the Silver Jubilee national session after the first one, also in Mumbai, was presided over by the former Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Since the first session in December 1980 the BJP's greatest achievement on the political front has been its emergence as one of the two principal poles in Indian politics. It has proved that the BJP was capable of leading a stable non-Congress coalition that could impart dynamism in development and solve problems that it had inherited.

At a press conference, the BJP leader, Mr Jaswant Singh read out the resolution moved by its National Executive on the internal security. The resolution identified three issues - terrorism, naxalism and illegal infiltration.

On terrorism it said that India should build friendship with Pakistan but remain vigilant about Pakistan's role in instigating terrorist activities here. Till cross border terrorism ends in Jammu and Kashmir the strength of the security forces should not be lowered. The Centre and State Governments should chalk out a strategy to combat terrorism and naxalism and revival of the POTA must be considered.

On illegal infiltration, it said that the IMDT Act (Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983) set aside by the Supreme Court should not be revived in any form. People from the minority community in Bangladesh who had taken refuge here should be granted citizenship and illegal infiltrators deported.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
TRAI rejects move to issue directive on access charge

World Bank blames Govt policies for poor rural lending

Advani to step down as BJP chief in December