3

Editorial

Contents

Let treachery not

pollute politics

Special Articles
When it's treachery in politics
By Amba Charan............

A legacy of dedication
By V. Shanmugnathan..

24

Interview
Rajnath Singh........................

Sushma Swaraj.......................

Dr. Raman Singh...................

21

Party Programmes
Kisan Morcha NE..................

12

Karyakarta Sammelan Gujarat. 13

BJYM National Convention..

16

BJP Investor Cell Conference. 29

State Reports
J&K............................................

27

Delhi...........................................

27

Arunachal Pradesh..................

28

Karnataka..................................

28

Editor
Prabhat Jha
Editorial Team
Amba Charan Vashishth
Amarendra Tiwari
Design & Layout
Dharmendra Kaushal
Contact
Tel: +91(11) 23381428
Fax: +91(11) 23387887
e-mail address

kamalsandesh@yahoo.co.in
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Jhandewalan, New Delhi-55

October 16-31,

2007 m 3

olitical life so far had been

taken to be sustained by
purity of blood, with a very
few exceptions. But the recent
instance of its getting infected is a
matter of concern for the whole
nation. What could be a matter more
shameful than the instance in which
a former Prime Minister is now being
charged with treachery? During the
evolutionary process of politics a
change is a matter of routine. But
it is a matter of concern when people
sacrificed their credibility, their
morality and principles.
Former Prime Minister Shri H.
D. Deve Gowda was already not
enjoying a very high reputation as
a man of high principles. What he
has done in Karnataka is a betrayal
of the trust of the people and his
alliance partner by refusing to hand
over power to BJP in pursuance of
a solemn pledge, has further
lowered his image in the mind of the
people. His brief stint as Prime
Minister, an unfortunate short span
of history, had not been free from
fall in ethics. His recent conduct
has made people vividly recall how
he took dozens of his relations on
a foreign jaunt at public expense.
Treachery has many forms and
formulations. In the past people
have stabbed in the back, but
stealthily. But here is the GowdaKumaraswamy duo that have
stabbed in the back in full view of
the people of the country and felt
proud of it. Politics had never
stooped so low before. India is a
country where it is said that people
sacrificed themselves to honour
their words. But here is Gowda-

Kumaraswamy who had no qualms

of conscience to cheat BJP when it
came to honouring their solemn word
to hand over power as per
agreement. Political power became
loftier than the personality and
principles of Shri Gowda. Despite
indication to the contrary, BJP
continued to have faith in the
gentlemanliness of Shri Gowda who,
it thought, must have been left with
an iota of self-respect and morality.
But that hope proved false, hoping
against hope. In business people
did cheat each other for monetary
gains. But such instances in politics
had been few and far between.
Such a dirty display of
treachery and histrionics for the
sake of power is unprecedented.
First, Shri Gowda ditched Congress
with whom he was having an
alliance. For the sake of power and
power alone, he has now played
another act of treachery with BJP.
People in the past were very
cautious not to let any wrong
precedent to go down in the memory
of the people and their own future
generations. What has Shri Gowda
done in this direction? Does he
expect that future generation will
recall his name with reverence to
follow his steps?
With a determined plot to stab
BJP in the back, Shri Gowda still did
still have the audacity to make the
last bid to continue with his greed
for power by seeking an
appointment with BJP President Shri
Rajnath Singh. By now Shri Singh
had seen through his game and
treachery. He refused to be taken in
by Shri Gowda's words which had

lost credence. He decided to

withdraw support to JD(S) in the
interests of democracy and people
of Karnataka. In fact, before Shri
Gowda came to meet Shri Rajnath
Singh, senior BJP leaders, former
Deputy CM Shri Yediyurappa and
Shri Ananth Kumar had already met
him and they had collectively
decided not to fall into Shri Gowda's
trap even if he now offered the chief
ministership. Accepting the hand of
friendship and support from a
person who by habit does not
honour his words would have been
against the wishes and mandate of
the people who had voted BJP the
single largest party in the last
elections.
By raising the bogey of BJP's
'communalism', Shri Gowda is trying
to befool none else than himself
alone. When did he come to know
that BJP was 'communal'? Twenty
months after his son was Chief
Minister because of 'communal'
BJP? Only the day he was to make
way for BJP in terms of a gentleman's
agreement? If BJP is 'communal' why
did he tread on his knees to request
to allow his son to continue as CM?
Shri Gowda is so much
enamoured of power that he will
certainly make a last ditch effort to
make his son still cling to power by
hook or crook. He may bewail before
Sonia durbar. If Congress wishes to
get itself cheated by the Gowda
family for the second time, who can
prevent it from doing so?
Whatever shape the things
make take in Karnataka politics in
days to come, the fact remains that
JD(S) has not only lost the
confidence of BJP, it has also gone
down in the eyes of the people who
were expecting that BJP will have its
chief minister on October 3 in
pursuance of the agreement.
Although both had fought elections
independently of each other, yet the
October 16-31,

2007 m 4

people had given a big hand to the

BJP-JD(S) alliance in the recently
held elections to local bodies in
Karnataka where both the alliance
partners increased their hold, while
Congress went down. The JD(S)
conduct is against the mandate of
the people here again.
It is time political parties gave
a serious thought to keep treachery
out of the political arena. Let us not
allow the sense of faith to be pushed

out of politics. People are already

losing faith in politics and
politicians. Let us not worsen the
situation further.
Today or tomorrow, the
elections are imminent. The people
have seen this drama of treachery
too long. They will not allow the
politics to be degraded and
polluted that much. They will
certainly show Shri Gowda the
place he deserves.
n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BJP pays homage to

Jana and Singhvi
From Our Correspondent
haratiya Janata Party paid a respectful homage to its former
National President, Shri K. Jana Krishnamoorthy who expired on
September 25. The leaders also took the opportunity to remember
the great role played by the eminent jurist and constitutional expert Dr.
L. M. Singhvi.
The programme organized at the national headquarters at 11, Ashok
Road, New Delhi, on October 7, 2007 was presided over by the BJP
National President, Shri Rajnath Singh and attended by Leader of
Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri L. K. Advani, and former Union Minister
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi. Uttrakhand Chief Minister, Maj. Gen. (Retd.)
B. C. Khanduri was also present and paid his homage.
All the three leaders recalled the great qualities of Shri Jana
Krishnamoorthy's qualities of head and heart. He was a living example
of simple living and high thinking. His commitment and devotion to
party ideology was exemplary.
The significant role played by Dr. Swaraj Prakash Gupt, who breathed
his last on October 3, in unearthing unchallengeable proof about the
existence of Ram temple at Ayodhya.
Other important leaders who attended the function included Shri
Ram Lal, General Secretary (Organisation), Shri Prabhat Jha, Shri Pyare
Lal Khandelwal, Shri Kedar Nath Sahni, Shri Ashwani Kumar, Shri
Shahnawaj Hussain MP, Shri Bapu Apte MP, Shri Mange Ram Garg and
many others. Delhi BJP President Dr. Harsh Vardhan compered the
programme.
The meeting ended with observance of two minutes' silence in the
memory of departed souls. Later, all those present offered floral tributes
before the portrait of Shri Jana Krishnamoorthy. n

When it's treachery in politics

People will always quote Gowda
By Amba Charan Vashishth

t is difficult to describe in words

what the father-son duo of Shri
H. D. Deve Gowda and Chief
Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy did in
the Karnataka politics in the first
week of October 2007. Politics may
be a dirty word, but what the two
did is much dirtier, nay the dirtiest.
Perfidy looks too mild a word to
describe what happened. And
above all, they have no regrets. On
the contrary, the GowdaKumaraswamy gang is trying to feel
proud and trying to put a brave face
as if it is they who have been
wronged by BJP in having made their
party ascend the ladder of power
and made Gowda's son as Chief
Minister. It looks like Ravana trying
to pose as the aggrieved and
persecuted or the adulterous trying
to pose as a person of virtue or the
killer crying of denial of justice.
It is difficult to find a white spot
in the political life of Shri H. D. Deve
Gowda. He has pushed his son too
in those very black waters of his
politics. Shri Gowda ditched and
stabbed in the back his own political
mentor, late Shri Ram Krishna
Hegde. He did not spare Shri I. K.
Gujaral who succeeded him as Prime
Minister after the Congress then
forced the United Front to change
Shri Gowda.
In the last elections to the
Karnataka assembly, the verdict had
been clearly against the ruling
Congress government led by Shri
Dharam Singh. In the 224-member
Karnataka
assembly,
the
overwhelming strength of Congress
in the earlier House was reduced to
just 65 with BJP emerging as the
single largest party with 79 seats
and Janta Dal(S) led by Shri Deve
Gowda got only 58, the third
position. Yet, both JD(S) and
October 16-31,

2007 m 5

Congress defied the mandate of the

people and joined hands to once
again gain power which had been
denied by the people to them. Shri
Gowda's then hypocritic posture
was that they were entering into this
post-poll marriage of convenience
and opportunism to keep the
'communal' forces away from power.
Since the balance of power lay
in the hands of JD(S), Shri Deve
Gowda continued with his pinpricks
every now and then. In fact, having
tasted the blood of power when he
became prime minister of the United
Front government not on merit but
through a process of elimination, in
his heart he nurtured the ambition
to head the Karnataka government
himself which was not acceptable
to Congress which made Shri
Dharam Singh the chief minister
again.
Because of the dubious nature
of his political career, Shri Gowda
continued to give nightmares to the
Congress. Ultimately, in January
2006 his younger son, Shri H. D.
Kumaraswamy revolted and
withdrew support to Dharam Singh
led government. The choice before
the BJP then was either elections or
support Shri Kumaraswamy. It did
not wish to force elections and
burden
the
common man with
unnecessary and
u n w a n t e d
elections.
Although being
the largest single
party having more
MLAs (79) than of
JD(S) which had
only 58, BJP
behaved like an
elder
brother
showering the

generosity on the younger brother

to be the Chief Minister first. Shri
Kumaraswamy
entered into a
written agreement with BJP that he
would be the CM for the first 20
months and BJP would take over on
expiry of the 20 month period on
October 3, 2007.
Political morality and honesty
had never been the strong points of
Shri Gowda's politics. But the BJP
was taken in by the fact that Shri
Kumaraswamy had then even
revolted against his father. BJP then
thought that son may not be like
father. Shri Gowda too had given a
great performance on the political
stage, charging his son with having
stabbed him in the back. He even
disowned Kumaraswamy. He wept
bitterly before the Press and public.
Today, it appears, this was all a well
thought-out stage-managed drama.
If there were any tears in his eyes,
these must only be of the crocodile.
He went to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
apologizing for the conduct of his
son. He resigned from the office of
the President of JD(S). He expelled
his son and the MLAs who revolted
with him from the Party. He vowed
that he would have no truck with
his son as long as he had the
support of BJP.

But later events proved that

Gowda was not a man of words. He
heartily enjoyed a feast of his own
words. This proved soon. He
embraced his son once again. The
father and son in life were again
father and son in politics too. He
rescinded the expulsion of his son
and his revolting MLAs. According
to reports, the reality was that Shri
Gowda was not against what
Kumaraswamy and his MLAs did,
but actually wanted his elder son,
Shri H. D. Revenna to be the Chief
Minister. When the father failed, he
acquiesced into accepting his fate.
It was more than six months
back since when news started
emanating that Shri Gowda is going
to ditch the BJP and he will never
part with his son's chief ministership
under any circumstances. Despite
many occasional pinpricks and
unwanted demands, his refusing to
respect the coalition dharma by
voting for the BJP-supported
independent candidate for the office
of President, Shri Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat and later the NDA
candidate for the post of VicePresident, BJP continued to put up
with his pranks.
To give a semblance of his socalled 'secular' credentials, about
two months back Shri Gowda
nominated a person from minority
community as the President of the
State unit of JD(S). On taking over
he started making statements and
allegations against BJP. He even
hinted that JD(S) would not hand
over power to BJP.
JD(S) did not fight Karnataka
local bodies elections in alliance with
BJP with the support of which it
was ruling in the State. The election
results went into the head of GowdaKumaraswamy when their party won
about 1500 seats. But they forgot
that the performance of Congress
may have been poorer having been
made to be content with 1500 seats
from its earlier tally of 2700 seats,
BJP had increased its win to 1158
seats from its earlier score of just
October 16-31,

2007 m 6

338. Another point to note was that

BJP had contested only 3640 seats
out of a total of 5008.
Shri Kumaraswamy started
sending conflicting signals. Two
days before the deadline, he
announced that he is ready to make
sacrifices to honour his solemn
assurance and agreement. But then
he changed track. So did the father.
He started insisting that his son be
allowed to continue for the rest of
the term. When this was not
acceptable to BJP, he played the
caste card. He wanted that he did
not want to hand over power to
BJP's present Deputy Chief
Minister, Shri B. S. Yediyurappa and
wanted BJP to name another
nominee. BJP stood to its ground
and refused to give in because it
was none of Shri Gowda's or JD(S)'s
business to dictate who should be
the chief minister.
Ultimately, BJP President Shri
Rajnath Singh called the bluff of Shri
Gowda. When the latter came to
meet him he told him either to honour
the solemn pledge and written
agreement or we part company.
Nothing less, nothing more.
Shri Gowda underestimated the
strength and character of BJP. He
thought, perhaps, having tasted
power for the first time in this
southern State, BJP would ultimately
submit to whatever he offered to it.
But Shri Rajnath Singh proved a
hard nut to crack. He made him
realize that though gentlemanly
liberal and generous, BJP stood by
its commitments and probity in
politics. Shri Gowda returned
disappointed, empty handed. He
has lost whatever he was left with
him - power in coalition with BJP.
Credibility and people's confidence
in his crocodile tears, he had lost
much earlier.
Who will fall prey to his glib
talk and histrionics will be known in
a matter of days? Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
may be his next target. He may
succeed too. Both he and Congress
have at least one thing in common:

For power they can stoop to any

low of opportunism. Principles and
political morality have never been
their forte any time.
That Shri Gowda was hoping
against hope is evident from the
cunningness of his son on not
having forwarded the resignations
of BJP ministers for acceptance to
the Governor although they had
resigned on October 3 and
boycotted en bloc the cabinet
meeting held later.
This second experience of
helping another OBC scale the
heights of power too proved bitter.
In both instances BJP fulfilled its
part of the agreement and
commitment sincerely and honestly,
but when it came the turn of Mrs.
Mayawati in UP and GowdaKumaraswamy in Karnataka now,
the treachery was the reward it
received from its friends and alliance
partners.
Once bitten, twice shy. That
may be the old saying and true to a
great extent, in life. BJP will have to
tread its path to coalitions very
cautiously in future. Yet, these
treacherous acts of its partners
cannot succeed in making it deflect
from its sense of honesty, principles,
probity and ideology. Whatever the
setbacks, BJP will not shy away from
doing what it thinks is in the overall
interest of the nation.
Till now we had been citing the
instance of Afzal Khan who tried to
stab Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj
in the back. Now in the politics of
independent India people will cite
the example of GowdaKumaraswamy duo.
BJP stands for immediate
elections to Karnataka Vidhan
Sabha. Shri Gowda will try to project
himself as a martyr to a cause - the
cause to stick of power by stabbing
BJP from the back. He has made a
fool of the people for pretty too long.
He stands exposed in the eyes of
the people. Reality will dawn upon
him sooner than later when the result
of people's mandate is out. n

Interview

Vajpayee, Advani are leaders of

the party : Rajnath Singh
In an interview to VARGHESE K GEORGE of The Indian Express,
BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh discussed on a wide-range of issues
involving the BJP and NDA. Excerpts:
88 You have declared that the
BJP is in election mode...
8
Chances are very high for an
early election. The CPM will
not compromise on the
nuclear deal issue and the
Government is set to fall.
88 You are claiming to be ready
for elections but isnt the
BJP struggling to stand on
its feet?
8
We are ready for the battle.
Our ongoing programme
BJP at every polling booth
- is a huge success. In some
States it has already achieved
100 per cent success. For
instance, in Gujarat.
88 But in UP your home state,
things are really bad for the
BJP. Why?
8
I admit that we are not as
strong as we used to be. But
things have improved from
the time of Assembly
elections.
Parliament
elections will be vastly
different from the Assembly
one. I dont think the
Brahmins have joined the
BSP permanently. They will
come back. The Scheduled
Caste base of the BSP is
eroding already.
88 The BJPs alliances are
also not working for it. Are
you not failing to manage
October 16-31,

2007 m 7

partners?
There are minor issues with
the Shiv Sena, but by and
large the NDA alliance is
intact and it will expand
before the elections. We will
have new partners.
88 Will the next elections be
won by a Third Front
Government of some sorts,
given that regional parties
and the Left are moving
closer?
8
It is not possible to say
anything definite at this
point. The conflicts within the
so-called Third Front parties
are such that they cannot
sustain.
88 Bihar CM Nitish Kumar,
8

your ally, has said A B

Vajpayee should be the PM
candidate of the alliance. Do
you think Vajpayee was
more helpful in winning
allies for the BJP?
8
The only thing that I will say
on the question of leadership
is that there is no confusion
within the BJP on the issue.
88 But there is a lot of
confusion outside the BJP
on the issue. Will you indeed
declare a PM candidate when
the polls are announced?
8
I told you, there is no
confusion in the party.
88 As president, are you the
leader of the party?
8
I am the president. Shri A B
Vajpayee and Shri L K
Advani are the leaders of the
party.
8
I consult Vajpayeeji, Advaniji
and senior colleagues before
taking any decision.
88 As party president, can you
pinpoint some programmes
which you think are
distinctively your initiative?
8
As I told you, individuals are
not important. But I have
personal interest in the
programme Bhajpa har
booth pe and reserving 33
per cent posts for women. n
(Courtesy: The Indian Express)

Dharna/fast by Telangana farmers

PM must attend to sugarcane

growers problems : Advani
From Our Correspondent

he BJP has upped the ante

against the UPA government
for its anti-farmer policies
amid talks of a booming economy.
Addressing a dharna by the
sugarcane growers from Telangana
region on October 3 at Jantar Mantar
in New Delhi Leader of Opposition
in Lok Sabha, Shri L K Advani said,
I would like to ask the government
if the economy is doing well then
why are so many farmers committing
suicide in the country, which I think
is the highest number in the world.
The Prime Minister must
speedily look into problems of
sugarcane growers in Telangana
(Andhra Pradesh) and I would write
to him and the agriculture minister
in this regard, he said.
The farmers were demanding
immediate debt relief and generous
rehabilitation measures for the
families who have committed
suicides.
The dharna and the hunger
strike by the Telangana farmers
concluded with Shri Advani
assuring them all help to solve their
grievances. Shri Advani issued a
statement after expressing
solidarity with farmers from
Telangana region in Andhra
Pradesh.
Box Full text of his statement
Box
A delegation of farmers from
Medak district in Andhra Pradesh
met me last week to apprise me of a
unique campaign that they had
undertaken to highlight the problem
of kisan suicides in the Telangana

October 16-31,

2007 m 8

region of the state. Four of them

D. Vasant Kumar, G. Govind Reddy,
K. Narayan Reddy and K. Ramulu
had come to Delhi on a Kisan Azadi
Pad Yatra, covering a distance of
1840 kms on foot in 54 days. They
explained to me the numerous
difficulties faced by farmers,
especially sugarcane-growers, in
their region, which were
compounded
by the faulty
policies and
callous
attitude of
the central
and state
governments.
As is
well known,
thousands
of
debtr i d d e n
farmers have
committed
suicide in
the Telengana region of Andhra
Pradesh. Many such cases have
also been reported from Medak
district. I complimented the young
kisan activists on their arduous
padyatra and conveyed my best
wishes for the dharna they had
planned at Jantar Mantar, along with
scores of kisans from Medak who
were expected to join them the
following day.
Yesterday I learnt that Vasant
Kumar and Govind Reddy had also
begun an indefinite hunger strike to
draw the attention of the
government to the plight of farmers

in Telangana. Their hunger strike

has entered the sixth day today.
Concerned about their health,
especially in view of the fact that
they have suffered the strain of
walking continuously for nearly two
months all the way from Medak to
Delhi, I appealed to them to call off
their hunger strike. I said they had
already done enough indeed, more

than what one would expect from a

non-political organization of
youngsters to highlight the
problems of kisans in their state.
I am happy to note that they
have accepted my appeal.
I have assured them that I would
soon write a letter to the Prime
Minister and the Agriculture
Minister to give serious and speedy
consideration to their demands,
some of which are:
1) Immediate debt relief to all the
distressed farmers, especially
sugarcane growers, in
Telangana.
...Continued on page 30

Special Interview

Women yearning to shoulder

responsibility : Sushma Swaraj
Smt. Sushma Swaraj is a firebrand BJP leader. She is also the Deputy
Leader of BJP Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha. When BJP National
President, Shri Rajnath Singh, decided to grant, in principle, 33 percent
reservation to women in the Party Organisation, Smt. Swaraj was made the
head of the Committee constituted to go into the modalities of
implementation of the decision. She submitted her report during the
National Executive Meeting of the Party held at Bhopal on September 2123, 2007. The Committee report was adopted unanimously in principle.
Now the matter has to go to the National Council for ratification and
amendment in the Party constitution.
Amarendra Tiwari of KAMAL SANDESH interviewed Smt. Swaraj in
the first week of October. Excerpts from the interview:
Kamal Sandesh (KS) : First of all, congratulations to
you as you have been adjudged the Best
Parliamentarian - 2004. How does it feel to
reach this stage in three decades of your
political journey?
Sushma Swaraj (SS) : It has been thirty years since
when I contested the Haryana Assembly
elections for the first time in 1977. I made a
record of sorts by becoming the youngest
Minister ever and most probably this record
would remain unbeatable unless the minimum
age required to contest elections is lowered. I
was barely 25 when I became the Minister.
The newspapers those days wrote that I was
the baby-faced minister. It was quite
challenging task for me but within a week the
newspapers started seeing me in a different
light as they started writing that I was a
firebrand minister. My background in Law
helped me a great deal in dealing with officials
and the official files.
KS : How was the experience of working as a Minister
at this young age of 25?
SS : A woman in politics has to display double the
ability when compared to her male counterparts if
she wants to make a mark. And once she proves
herself then sky is the limit in politics. I would
give you one example. In 1987 I became the
Education Minister. You must be aware how
difficult is to transfer teachers in the education
October 16-31,

2007 m 9

department. I made a transparent policy on

transfers. Nearly 30000 teachers were transferred
and the satisfaction rate of this exercise was
whopping 99 percent. It was unprecedented in
the history of Haryana. When people asked how
I could do that then, I told them it was nothing but
man management.
I am of the opinion that whether the tenure is
long or short, one should do something concrete
so that he or she is remembered even after his/her
tenure is over. In 1990 I became the Member of
Rajya Sabha and since then I have been the
Member of one or the other House. When I
became the Minister of Information and
Broadcasting at the Centre I took two or three
decisions which left an indelible mark in the history
of Independent India. For example, I gave films
the status of industry and it changed the face of
Indian film industry forever. The film industry
became free from underworld financing as the
banks started financing the movie making after it
was granted the status of industry.
Another historic decision taken during my
tenure as the Information and Broadcasting
Minister was to provide uplinking facility from
India to television channels. Today we find a
sudden spurt of channels beaming on our screen.
It is all due to this uplinking facility.
During my tenure as Health Minister, I
announced six new AIIMS in the country. It was

10

a Herculean task as there was only one AIIMS in

the country in 56 years since independence. We
could not finish this task as we were voted out of
power. Unfortunately the present incumbent
government has turned a blind eye towards this
project.
KS : In the three decades of your political journey you
have always been admired as a distinguished
Parliamentarian. What does it take to be a
Parliamentarian like you?
SS : There is no alternative to hard work. I had been
associated with both the Houses as a member.
My experience says that decency and firmness
are not contradictory to each other. If you are
decent with an attitude of firmness then you are
bound to be very effective. When it comes to
presenting a subject in Parliament one should not

statement of DMK President Karunanidhi. On Ram

Sethu I would say nobody should ask us to give
evidence that it was made by Bhagwan Ram. It is
a question of faith and thus cannot be questioned.
We installed our faith in Ram Sethu not because
NASA showed certain satellite images. It has been
instilled in us for ages. Mahirishi Valmiki and
Goswami Tulsidas contributed in taking the
concept of Ram Sethu to each and every
household in the country. The BJP has not
initiated the movement on Ram Sethu. It is the
Ram Sethu Raksha Manch which is spearheading
this movement. The BJP has decided to support
the movement wholeheartedly.
Now coming to the affidavit filed by the ASI,
I would like to say it has put the government in
dock. Being the main opposition we are
challenging
the
government. The
KS : In the recently concluded National Executive point to note is that
meeting the BJP decided to give 33 percent not even the
reservation to women in its organisation. When Moghuls or Britishers
this decision is going to be implemented on the could gather courage
to put a question mark
ground?
on Bhagwan Ram.
SS : The BJP National Executive has adopted the report on 33 percent The
UPA
women reservation in the organisation. Now this report would be Government has hurt
discussed in the National Council. Then it would be followed with the the feelings of every
amendments in BJPs Constitution. I do hope this report would be Indian. Lastly, the
derogatory statement
adopted in Council as well.
of Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister is a perfect
take the task casually. One should keep three
example of the madness exhibited in the name of
things in mind. One, the presentation should be
pseudo-secularism. No political leader could have
to the point. Two, the in-depth knowledge of the
dared to make a mockery of any other religion in
subject and third is the command over the
this manner. The BJP has taken a serious note of
language. I feel even the most complicated issues
the whole issue.
can be explained in a simple language. In KS : Do you think there are enough women leaders in
Parliament I have expressed my views on many
the BJP to don the mantle?
issues and it is indeed very pleasant experience SS : Why not? I would like to tell you that we have
to receive the Best Parliamentarian award.
women leadership ready to take this responsibility.
KS : You are one of the prominent figures in BJP.
As you know the 73rd and 74th Constitutional
These days BJP has taken up the issue of Ram
Amendment has given the women in the country
Sethu in a big way. How do you see the whole
an opportunity to actively participate in the
issue and the ongoing controversy?
electoral politics. There are a large number of
SS : I see the whole issue in three subdivisions. First,
women leaders in BJP who have won the elections
the SSCP (Sethu Samudram Canal Project) which
in local bodies and panchayats and they are quite
is aimed at destroying proverbial Ram Sethu.
successful in discharging their duties. We can
Second, the affidavit filed by the UPA Government
easily incorporate these women leaders in the
which raised a question mark on the existence of
organisation while giving 33 per cent reservation
Shri Ram and third, the highly derogatory
to women.
October 16-31,

2007 m 10

11

KS : Now the question arises why the Congress, on

the one hand takes credit of introducing 73rd
and 74th Constitutional Amendment but it has
been shying away to introduce Women
Reservation Bill in Parliament?
SS : First of all I would like to correct you here as the
73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were
adopted with a consensus of all political parties.
It happened because it was not going to affect the
Members of Parliament. When it comes to giving
reservation to women in Parliament the MPs feel
insecure that they would lose their seat to some
women once the women reservation is introduced
in the Legislature. I have heard certain MPs
saying, Women Reservation Bill is like a suicide

note for us. This feeling of insecurity is the main

reason that the Women Reservation Bill is still
pending.
The Election Commission of India had once
recommended a formula of 33 percent reservation
in the political parties itself while distributing
tickets. BJP has taken certain positive steps in
this direction. I think the Election Commission
needs to direct the political parties to give 33
percent reservation to women in their
organisational structure. If the parties do not
comply with the direction, the Election Commission
should derecognise those political parties. It could
be a decisive step in giving 33 percent reservation
to women in the long run. n

Supreme Court stays APs 4% Muslim quota

he Supreme Court, according

to The Economic Times, on
September 28 restrained
Andhra Pradesh Government from
making further admissions into the
educational and professional
colleges under the law providing for
4% reservations to Muslims.
While staying the religion
quota, the apex court questioned
the legality of religion-based quota
and methodology for determination
of the Muslim community as a
backward class.
A bench comprising Chief
Justice K G Balakrishanan, Justice
R V Raveendran and Justice V S
Sirpurkar ordered, There shall be
no further admissions. It asked the
government to maintain status quo
on the issue of admissions of
Muslims students under quota law.
However, the court said that the
right of those already admitted under
such reservation policy shall not be
affected.
The court passed the order two
days before the last date for such
admissions which was fixed as
September 30. It posted the hearing
on October 5 to examine the legality
of religion-based quota provided for

October 16-31,

2007 m 11

the first time by AP.

The court was hearing a
petition moved by Sriteja Kamarsu
and T Murlidhar Rao challenging
the state government decision.
During the course of hearing, the
court questioned the reservation
policy for Muslims as a community.
Such quota should have been
provided not as Muslims but as
socially and educationally backward
classes remarked Justice
Raveendran.
The bench also wondered
whether quota could be extended
based on religion or community
under the provisions of

Constitution. We can understand,

the classification of Backward
Classes as a whole and consequent
reservation for such group, the
court said.
It expressed its dismay at the
categorisation of sub sects into
socially and educationally
backward classes and other
Muslim groups. Fourteen sub-sects
have been put under SEBC and the
15th referred to as Other Muslim
groups. It implied that many other
sub sects will get benefit under the
quota law, observed the court.
The court also wanted to know
the quantum of reservation for OBCs
in the State. When it was brought to
the notice that it was 25%, the court
said that adding of 4% more has
pushed the total reservation limit in
the state to the upper ceiling of
reservation that is 50% of the total
seats.
Senior Counsel Harish Salve
appearing for anti-quota petitioners
said that religion based reservation
will have wide scale ramifications
for the country. It is entirely
communal and violate of Articles
14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution,
said Salve. n

12

BJP Kisan Morcha National Executive

Dont promote industry at

agricultures cost : Rajnath
Challenges Sonia to drop Gandhi surname
From Our Correspondent

ccusing the Congress-led

UPA government of
ignoring rural India, BJP
President Shri Rajnath Singh on
October 3 said the people of India
were looking towards BJP with hope
and aspiration that it would take the
country in the right direction.
Addressing the inaugural
session of Kisan Morchas National
Executive meeting in New Delhi Shri
Singh said the mid-term polls were
imminent and asked the delegates
to get ready for initiating change in
the government at the Centre.
Claiming that 75 percent of
Indians still have a rural background,
the BJP President said, The
government should not promote
industry at the cost of agriculture. If
the purchasing capacity of the rural
population is increased, it will give
a boost to the economy and
development. He added that the
BJP had been demanding an assured
income for farmers for a long time
but the government had taken no
steps towards providing it, I do
not expect this government to do
anything for the poor and the
farmers. We must prepare for the
polls as the reverse count for this
government has already started.
Pulling up the UPA Government
for being soft on terrorism Shri
Singh, We had shown the will to
combat terrorism and this
government has withdrawn POTA
without even bringing about a
strong alternative to the law. It
October 16-31,

2007 m 12

appears that the government has

no will power or intention to fight
terrorism.
BJP President said that the
government was busy making
predictions about the possibility of
more terrorist attacks at various
places. They should stop giving
forewarnings and take strong steps
instead. If they are willing to take
strong steps to curb terrorist
activities, I assure my partys
support to them, said he.
Launching a scathing attack on
the UPA Government for filing a
blasphemous affidavit in court BJP
President said, Mahatma Gandhis
political vision was Ram Rajya
while his spiritual vision was
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram and
his ultimate belief and the last words

were Hey Ram.

If Lord Ram did not exist, then
it means the preachings of Gandhiji
were all wrong. The Congress
President has Gandhi in her
surname. Her children also carry
Gandhi surnames. Then I think they
should reconsider, he said
He also demanded immediate
removal of DMK minister Shri T.R.
Baalu from the Union Cabinet for
making adverse comments against
the Supreme Court. His
continuance in the cabinet would
mean that the Congress supports
his views, he added.
Earlier Shri Rajnath Singh
inaugurated the meeting by lighting
the lamp and offering floral tributes
to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and
Pandit Deendayal Upadhaya. Kisan
Morcha National President Shri
Vinod Pandey thanked the BJP
President for being an inspiration to
all Morcha Karyakartas and
promised him their full support and
dedication to strengthen BJP in the
country. The meeting of Kisan
Morcha Executive adopted a
Resolution on Agriculture blaming
the UPA Government for Indias
dismal performance on agriculture
front. BJP National General Secretary
(Organisation) Shri Ramlal also
addressed the Morcha delegates in
a separate session. Shri Ramlal threw
light on different organisational
aspects and exhorted the Morcha
to galvanise into a more cohesive
unit. n

13

Karyakarta Sammelan at Ahmedabab

BJP resolves to register

victory in Gujarat
From Our Correspondent

ounding the election bugle in

Gujarat, Leader of Opposition
in the Lok Sabha Shri L K
Advani and BJP President Shri
Rajnath Singh on September 26
asked the cadres to ensure the
partys victory in the forthcoming
assembly polls with 150 out of 182
seats. To accomplish this goal the
Party launched BJP on every
booth programme in Gujarat.
Exhorting the mammoth
gathering of state-level party
workers in Ahmedabad the two
leaders said it was the cadres
responsibility that the party got the
type of massive mandate they
were seeking and succeeded in
forming the government in the state
for the third time in succession.
The two leaders arrived at
Ahmedabad from Chennai after
paying last respects to former party
president Shri Jana Krishnamurthy
who died on September 25.
Praising Gujarat Chief Minister
Shri Narendra Modi as the most
popular Chief Minister, Shri L K
Advani said he had made Gujarat
not only a frontline state in the
country but also as a hot investment
destination in the world.
Underlining the double digit
growth in Gujarat Shri Advani said
the State had made rapid progress
during the last six years, and asked
the workers to give their
wholehearted support to Shri Modi.
Shri Advani expressed
confidence that under Shri Modis
leadership the party would get a
landslide victory in the elections.

October 16-31,

2007 m 13

He took the
Central
government
to task on
issues, like
appeasement
o
f
minorities,
questioning
t
h
e
existence of
Ram and
b e i n g
soft on
terrorism
Elated
with the response of the BJP
karyakartas to his call to ensure
BJPs win in the forthcoming
Assembly elections in Gujarat BJP
President Shri Rajnath Singh asked
the karyakartas to fan out to the
remotest corners of the State and
disseminate the information on the
achievements of the BJP
government. Showering lavish
praise on the State Chief Minister
BJP President said Shri Modi had
turn the Gujarat Electricity Board
into a profitable unit and Gujarat
was the only state in India to do so.
I had been a chief minister
and I know what it is to make an
electricity board work profitably,
he said. Shri Singh underlined three
themes as the partys poll plank for
the coming Assembly polls: Ram
Sethu, Injustice to Gujarat and
Development. He spoke at length
on these three themes.
Gujarat Chief Minister Shri
Narendra Modi, who spoke for about

25 minutes, lashed out at the UPA

government for continued
injustice to Gujarat and for
spreading unfounded lies about
the state. Targetting the Congress
President Smt Sonia Gandhi, Shri
Modi said that the government led
by her Party did not miss any

opportunity to malign Gujarat. If

you want to hang me, do it today.
But stop maligning Gujarat and its
pride, he declared, in his own
inimitable style. He dwelt at length
about
his
governments
achievements and alleged that the
Central government was creating
obstructions in the progress of
Gujarat.
Shri Modi said, I love Gujarat.
My Gujarat. I seek the blessings of
all Gujaratis to be able to serve
them, and also added: I am
engrossed in the bhakti of Gujarat.
Earlier, State BJP President Shri
Purushottam Rupala said that UPA
Government was not really
interested in the Sethu-samundram
project but it was only interested in
destroying the Ram Sethu.
Prominent among others who
addressed the gathering were BJP
General Secretary and Incharge of
Party Affairs in Gujarat Shri Om
Prakash Mathur, Shri Ashok Bhatt
and Shri Amit Shah
n

14

Memorandum to President

Dismiss TN Government : BJP

From Our Correspondent
Terming the attacks on its headquarters in Tamil Nadu
allegedly by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam workers as a
Constitutional breakdown, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders
on September 27 called on the President Smt. Pratibha Patil and
demanded for the dismissal of the Karunanidhi government. It
is a situation of Constitutional breakdown. It were the ministers
who instigated, provoked and led the attack. We want the DMK
government to be dismissed, BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh
told reporters after calling on the President.
In a memorandum to the President, BJP also demanded
dismissal of the DMK ministers at the Centre. All the ministers
of the DMK in the UPA government also be sacked forthwith,
Shri Singh added. The BJP delegation led by Leader of Opposition Shri L K Advani included Leader of
Opposition in Rajya Sabha Shri Jaswant Singh, Deputy Leader of BJP Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha
Smt Sushma Swaraj, Deputy Leader of BJP Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra,
former Union Ministers Shri M Venkaiah Naidu and Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. The full text of the
Memorandum submitted to the President of India:
Smt. Pratibha Patil
Honble Rashtrapati
India.
Mahamahim Rashtrapati ji,
The entire State of Tamilnadu
is in turmoil and tense. The highly
derogatory and insulting affidavit
filed by the Government of India
before the Supreme Court
questioning the very existence of
Lord Ram was followed by an equally
abusive,
humiliating
and
blasphemous comment made by the
Tamilnadu Chief Minister Shri M
Karunanidhi against Lord Ram
revered and worshiped by millions
in India and world over. Leave aside
tendering an apology the Congress
leadership or, even the Prime
Minister have not even formally
condemned these provocative
comments of the State Chief
Minister. Understandably there is a
great sense of shock, dismay, agony
and anger among Hindus and
Indians all over, over these
comments against one of the most
important icons of their faith.
However, as if that is not enough
now State sponsored attack is being
made on the offices of the BJP and
October 16-31,

2007 m 14

other Hindu organisation in the

entire State as also the common
people.
Till now in the entire State of
Tamilnadu, the offices of BJP, RSS,
VHP, Hindu Munnani and other
bodies have been attacked at as
many as ninety places. It all began
with the statement of Shri Arcot N
Veerasamy, Minister of Power,
Tamilnadu, openly instigating the
DMK carders and supporters to
teach the BJP a lesson. The attack
on the State office of BJP in Chennai
on 23rd Sept. was led by Shri Parudhi
Ilam Vazhuthi, another State
Minister, and Chennai mayor Shri
Subramaniam. Shri KKSSR
Ramchandran another Minister of
Tamilnadu publicly gave a call to
beat BJP workers. Another Minister
Veerpandi, Arumvgam also
instigated the workers to protest and
attack the BJP offices. Naturally,
with the Ministers of the State
sponsoring, instigating and leading
the attack, the State Police is bound
to be a mute spectator. The
residences of even senior State
office bearers of the BJP were not
spared from this attack. Naturally,

there has been extensive damage to

property and also injury to many
with no meaningful action by the
police.
India is a democracy governed
by rule of law. The right to differ
and dissent is a part of our political
tradition. The BJP does not believe
in violence and equally condemns
any violent conduct or, utterances.
It is well known that insulting the
faith and religious feelings is an
offence under the Penal law of the
country. The country is asking
today a very searching question that
is: can the Gods and icons of faith
of other religions be subjected to the
same derogatory comments in an
affidavit by the Central government
or by a Chief Minister? Mr
Karunaniddhi has till date not even
apologised for his highly insulting
comments against Lord Ram.
On October 1st, the ruling DMK
has called for a State wide bandh on
the Setusamundran project. It is
curious and surprising that a ruling
party DMK and its allies who are
also partners in the central
government have called for a bandh.
The BJP is not principally opposed

15

to this project but wonders that why

for executing it should the Ramsetu
be demolished. Why this hurry, why
this vehemence, why this arrogance
that the Ramsetu, a glorious part of
our cultural civilisational heritage,
has to be destroyed? This does not
stand to reason and seems to be
motivated
by
extraneous
considerations. What we all
apprehend is that on Oct. 1st there
shall be a further repeat of reckless
State sponsored violence in and

around Tamilnadu with the state

Police remaining a mute spectator
for obvious reasons. If the ministers
instigate, provoke and lead the
attack, then it is evident there is a
complete
breakdown
of
constitutional machinery in the state
warranting immediate remedial
measures. We have not the slightest
doubt that life and property would
be targeted in an organized way in
the state including the opposition
as there would be state organized

and state patronised violence.

We accordingly demand the
following:
8 The Government of Tamilnadu
headed by Shri Karunaniddhi
should be dismissed forthwith.
8 All the Ministers of DMK in
the central government be
sacked forthwith.
8 Proper security of life and
property to all including the
opposition be ensured on
October 1st. n

BJP concerned over Myanmar situation and

unabated killing of Hindi-speaking people

North East Quarterly

From Our Correspondent

launched

The Bharatiya Janata Party is deeply concerned at the

turmoil and unrest prevailing in Myanmar and we hope that
the regime would respond positively to resolve the issues
which have
Press
caused a large
Statement
scale upsurge.
of Shri Rajiv
The
BJP
strongly
Pratap
disapproves of
Rudy,
violence which
BJP National
has
been
Spokesperson
unleashed on
peaceful protesters. The Government in Myanmar should
refrain from harsh repressive measures and should endeavour
to restore normalcy at the earliest. Priority should be given
to ensure equitable settlement of pending issues and all
contentious concerns should be settled through amicable
negotiations.
On Assam
The Bharatiya Janata Party is deeply concerned at the
unabated killings of Hindi-speaking migrants in Assam which
has been unleashed by ULFA militants and yesterdays
(September 30) Bomb blast killing half a dozen and injuring
more then thirty confirms the complete indifference of the
UPA government and the Congress-led state Government in
Assam. The attack earlier in January this year had also
targeted mainly poor labourers of Bihar killing more than 45
persons and the spate of insensitive and brutal massacre
continues unabated. The deafening silence maintained by
Shri Laloo Prasad Yadav who extends a crucial alliance support
to the Congress-led UPA government is highly questionable
at a time when thousands of people from the Hindi heartland
are being killed brutally. n
October 16-31,

2007 m 15

n a well-attended ceremony at the Deendayal

Research Institute (DRI), the North East
Forum (NEF) launched a journal titled the
North East Quarterly (NEQ). The journal was
released by Chief Guest Amolak Rattan Kohli,
the former Governor of Mizoram. Grp Capt (Retd)
Atul Chandra Barua, President of Assam
Association Delhi, was the Guest of Honour.
The event was presided by North East Quarterly
editor Lt Col (Retd) Bhuban Singh, who is also
a former State President of BJP Manipur.
In fact, the NEF itself is a new body. It is
being set up by some socially concerned North
Easterners, residing in Delhi, as an advocacy
centre that would work towards informing,
educating and sensitizing our policy makers and
opinion leaders about the North East region,
and the issues pertaining to it.
The North East Quarterly is the first
advocacy effort of the NEF. As explained by the
organisers, the target readership of the North
East Quarterly are 'policy-makers' parliamentarians and bureaucrats - and 'opinionleaders' - journalists and academicians.
Future plans of the NEF include setting up
a topical library and documentation centre on
the North East. NEF also intends to conduct
outreach programmes to connect with the
various North Eastern communities in Delhi and
mobilize them around common themes. n

16

BJYM gears up for future

challenges
From Our Correspondent

he Bharatiya Janata Morcha

Yuva Morcha, the youth
wing of BJP, organized a twoday national convention on
September 28 and 29, 2007 at
Maharana Pratap Nagar in Jaipur. It
was one of the mega events in the
history of BJYM with as many as six
brainstorming sessions attended by
nearly 2600 youth workers.
Inaugurating the Convention,
BJP National President Shri Rajnath
Singh said the progress of the
country was not possible if the
youth of the country remained
uneducated and unemployed.
Blaming the present dispensation
for the present state of the youth,
Shri Singh said, "The government
does not have a policy for this large
and energetic segment of our
population."
Underlining the BJP's agenda
on youth Shri Singh said, "We need
to better utilise the energy in youth.
We need to give them opportunities
in the organisation and we need to
identify new job opportunities for
them."
Expressing concern over the

October 16-31,

2007 m 16

internal
and
external security of
the country Shri
Rajnath Singh
categorically
opposed the idea
of any reduction in
the army presence
in Jammu and
Kashmir and said
that instead of
reducing the army
presence, deployment should be
strengthened five fold.
He said that terrorism was still
posing a serious threat to Jammu
Kashmir and bordering areas along
Indo-Bangladesh border. He said
that a top Army official in his latest
report had warned that about 5,000
militants were waiting across the
Indo-Pak border for making a bid to
infiltrate into Indian territory.
Speaking at length about the
activities carried out by some of the
neighbouring countries, Shri Singh
said that Anti-India militant
activities were also being fuelled
from Bangladesh, a nation created
by Indian forces, he claimed, and
adding Pakistani
intelligence agency
ISI was now the
source
of
inspiration for these
anti-India forces.
Accusing the
Manmohan Singh
Government of softhandling
of
terrorism, he said
that terrorists were
infiltrating into India

from neighbouring countries and the

UPA government was busy
preparing for a dialogue with these
countries and forces.
Condemning the Centre for
revocation of POTA without
providing any other alternative in
its place, he charged the
government's policies with boosting
the morale of subversive forces.
BJP President also condemned
UPA Government's ineffective
diplomacy and said that presently
the country was having strained
relations with most of its
neighbours, including China.
Forecasting the mid-term polls
in near future Shri Singh exhorted
the BJYM to gear up for the polls."
Price rise, Ram Sethu, failure on the
internal security front and Muslim
appeasement would be the issues
in the elections", said Shri Singh.
Addressing the delegates, the
Rajasthan Chief Minister Smt
Vasundhara Raje Scindia said the
Government had curtailed the tenure
of Shashikant Sharma Commission
from three years to six months to
asses the economic backwardness
in the State. She said her government

17

and the BJP believed that the needy

strata of the society should be
equally benefited from the
government policies.
Presenting a rosy picture of
Rajasthan she said the State was
one of the hottest investment
destinations in the country now.
"Rajasthan stands among the
frontline States with Gujarat,
Maharashtra and Karnataka. This is
one of the biggest achievements for
our government in the last 4 years",
she said.
State BJP President Shri
Mahesh Chandra Sharma said the
State Government was working in
the right direction and had been
successful in making a sincere effort
in meeting the aspirations of almost
all sections of the society.
Addressing the gathering BJP
National Treasurer Shri Ramdas
Agarwal said the UPA Government
had become the meeting ground of
such forces that were trying to
disintegrate the country. "The
BJYM needs to counter such forces
effectively, he exhorted the
delegates. He congratulated the
BJYM President Shri Amit Thakkar
and the State BJYM President Shri
Ashok Lahoti for organising the
Convention successfully.
In the valedictory session, BJP
General Secretary Shri Arun Jaitley
explicitly told the delegates that the
UPA Government was not going to
last its full term. It was crumbling
under the pressure of pulls and
October 16-31,

2007 m 17

pressure politics. "The

Centre has been
paralysed by the
different constituents
in the UPA coalition
and those supporting
the coalition", said he.
Blaming the UPA
Government
for
worsening internal
security scenario in the
country, Shri Jaitley said it was
fighting terror wearing kid gloves."
The Government repealed

POTA playing vote bank politics.

When States like Gujarat and
Rajasthan seek permission to make
tougher laws against terrorist
activities then they are not allowed
to do so", Shri Jaitley added.
Giving a detailed account of the
Centre's failure Shri Jaitley asked the
youth to remain vigilant and make
the government realise its mistakes.
BJYM President Shri Amit Thakar
and his team were instrumental in
making this BJYM National
n
Convention a grand success.

IX different sessions held were addressed by eminent personalities

and leaders like Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Bal Apte, Shri Ramlal,
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shri Joginder
Singh who shared their knowledge and expertise with the delegates.

w The first session was on "Internal Security" and former CBI director
Shri Joginder Singh was the guest speaker. He said that a clear
concept against terrorism should be developed at the national level.
He was of the view that speeches would not suffice. "We have to
bring in accountability while fighting terrorism. India needed to
change its policies to fight terrorism", said Shri Singh.

w Addressing a session on " Cultural Nationalism" BJP Vice-President

Shri Bal Apte said "It must be understood that India has a continuing
'culture which blossomed more than 5000 years ago and has given
successive generations of Indians a mind set, a value system and a
way of life which has been retained with remarkable continuity despite
repeated foreign invasions and the enormous growth of population."

w BJP Spokesperson Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad explained the delegates

on " The present political scenario " and came down heavily on the
UPA Government for its misguided policies and its role in playing
vote bank politics.

w General Secretary ( Organisation) Shri Ramlal outlined the role of

youth in a political organisation like BJP. He gave some useful tips
on how to strengthen BJP among the youth.

w Former Union Minister Shri Venkaiah Naidu addressed a session on

rural development. He made it very clear that without developing the
rural areas in the country India could not be a superpower in the year
2020. He also enlightened the delegates about the programmes taken
up the NDA Government on rural development.

w Delivering a lecture on " Integral Humanism" Madhya Pradesh Chief

Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the philosophy of Integral
Humanism was the gist of all philosophies in the world. " It is the only
philosophy in the world which can act as the light house in today's
world", said Shri Singh.

18

Karunanidhi guilty u/s 153 IPC

For creating disaffection among communities
By Rajinder Puri
DID
RAM
STUDY
ENGINEERING IN COLLEGE? HE
WAS A DRUNKARD. There is no
historical evidence that Ram ever
existed, Tamil Nadu CM M.
Karunanidhi has said. It matters little
what Ram was or was not. What
matters is that this veteran politician
has violated Section 153-A of the
Indian Penal Code by creating
disaffection among communities.
Under law, he can be prosecuted
and sent to prison for three years.
Arguments put up by
rationalists defending Karunanidhi
are irrelevant. There is no historical
evidence that Ram did not exist.
There is no historical evidence that
Tamilians are a Dravidian race. There
is no historical evidence that the
Prophet Mohammed traversed the
moon and stars to ascend to heaven.
There is no historical evidence that
Jesus arose to resurrect himself after
his crucifixion. There is no historical
evidence that the Jesus was born of
Immaculate Conception. There is no
historical evidence that the Sikh
gurus ever raised their souls to
experience Sachkhand. There is no
historical evidence that Lord
Buddha achieved nirvana after his
meditation. There is no historical
evidence that the Red Sea parted
for Moses
However, there is plenty of
historical evidence that the DMK
government has been charged with
corruption. There is historical
evidence that Karunanidhis own
name is of Sanskrit origin to which
he has never objected. There is
historical evidence that Karunanidhi
has no loyalty to ideology and has
changed his political alliances to suit
rank opportunism. There is historical
evidence that the UPA government
to which his party belongs has
October 16-31,

2007 m 18

unashamedly covered up various

corruption cases, including the
Bofors case while Karunanidhi
maintained a cowardly silence. There
is historical evidence that
supporters of Karunanidhis sons
were accused in cases of rioting and
violence against a TV channel
which was critical of the
Karunanidhi dynasty. There is
historical
evidence
that
Karunanidhis son, Azhagiri, is
facing a murder charge in court.
There is historical evidence that
while Karunanidhi waxes eloquent
about job reservations for Other

Backward Classes, he has reserved

the plum political posts in his party
for his immediate family members.
There is historical evidence that
Karunanidhi supported the
expulsion of Jaya Bachchan as MP
because she occupied an office of
profit but protected over 40 other
MPs who also occupied offices of
profit.So, should devotees of Ram
at all bother about responding to
the garbage that a person of
Karunanidhis caliber wants to
spread? He does not merit rebuttal.
He deserves prosecution under the
rule of law. (Courtesy: The Outlook) n

Which Karunanidhi is lying?

From Our Correspondent
One Shri M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said in
September 2007: Some say there was a person over 17 lakh years ago. His
name, they say, was Ram. And we should not touch the bridge he built.
Who is this Ram? From which engineering college did he graduate? Is
there any proof of this? Ram is a big lie. In fact, if you read the old literature,
Ram was a drunkard and worse, Karunanidhi has said in recent days.
In his capacity as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, another Shri M.
Karunanidhi in his foreword to the Ramanathapuram district gazetteer on
June 14, 1972, stated that this (gazetteer) would give authentic and
interesting details of the many places and happenings that would highlight
the importance of the district. This is going to help policymakers and
public to ascertain reliable information.
Sethu Paalam is also known as Adams Bridge. It invokes Islamic
traditions. Adam, banished from the Garden of Eden, walked on this bridge
to reach Sri Lanka. This is referred to as Nala Sethu and as Tiruvanai
(sacred dam) in Tamil and also referred as Ram Sethu. There is also another
name, Adi Sethu.
About the bridge, the gazetteer says, This bridge is composed of
sand and stone. The western edge of this bridge links with Rameswaram
and the eastern end links with the island of Mannar, thereby linking India
and Sri Lanka. This is called Ramar Paalam because this bridge was built
under the leadership of Hanuman and with the participation of the vanar
sena (kuranguppadai) and facilitated the crossing by Ram. Up to 1480,
this bridge had served as a land link to Sri Lanka. Thereafter, a severe
cyclone created fissures and altered the dimensions of the bridge.
So will the real Shri M. Karunanidhi rise up and tell the world which
of the two M. Karunanidhis, the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, is lying?n

19

Bhagwan Ram is a source of

inspiration : Rajnath
From Our Correspondent

JP National President, Shri

Raj Nath Singh, on
September 27 said that the
President, Prime Minister and UPA
Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi
should compel the Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister Shri M. Karunanidhi to
withdraw his comments about Lord
Ram and Ramsetu and express
regret, failing which the President
should dismiss him from the post of
Chief Minister. Bhagwan Ram is
the source of inspiration for entire
humanity. If the BJP workers may
have to sacrifice their lives for
protecting his honour then they shall
do it happily, said Shri Singh.
BJP President was speaking as
the main speaker at a dharna staged
at Rajghat by the BJP Delhi Pradesh
in protest against the insult to
Bhagwan Ram and attack on the BJP
office at Chennai. Shri Rajnath Singh
said that Lord Ram had influenced
the entire world. In many Muslim
countries people worship Lord Ram
and Hanuman. Ramlilas are
organised in many countries of the
world, said he.
Taking the UPA Government
to task Shri Singh said if Lord Ram
did not exist then why did the Father
of National Mahatma Gandhi use to
sing Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
- Patit Pawan Sita Ram? Even
after being shot the last words
uttered by Gandhiji was Hey Ram.
The anti-religious Central
Government was hatching a
conspiracy to deny existence of that
Maryada Purshottam Bhagwan
Ram.
Deputy leader of BJP
Parliamentary Party, Smt. Sushma

October 16-31,

2007 m 19

Swaraj, said that the

sacred hair of Paigamber
of Allah Mohammad
Sahab was still preserved
in Hazratbal, Kashmir. The
faith of crores of Muslims
was connected with that
sacred hair. Crores of
Muslims are following the
path of Paigamber
Mohammad Sahab. Jesus
Christ was born from the
womb of Virgin Mary. The entire
Christian community of the world
believes in it. The followers of all
the religions trust their faith. The
entire world recognises the
existence of God. All the religions
believe in God although their
methods of worship and religious
rites may be different. In certain
Muslim majority countries like
Indonesia, and Mauritius Bhagwan
Ram and Hanuman are worshipped
even today. Indians are settled in
large numbers in these countries.
Due to the stroke of time they were
compelled to convert, but they have
not forgotten their Indian deity, she
said.
Addressing the gathering, Prof.
Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that there
is description of Lord Ram and
Ramsetu in the famous, sacred
Kamban Ramayana of South India.
One would find Kamban Ramayana
in every family of South India.
There is detailed description about
Lord Ram and incidents of his life
and Ram-Ravana war in this
Ramayana. A Chief Minister cannot
deny the invaluable book of belief
by telling that Ram and Ramsetu are
only myths. The human history is

only 5500 years old whereas Lord

Ram was born nine lakh years ago.
Even children know and believe in
such long history. In India the day
starts with speaking Ram-Ram. The
ruler intoxicated with power may try
to deny the existence of our ideal
Bhagwan Ram, but He lives in the
soul of India, said Shri Malhotra.
The BJP Delhi Pradesh
President Dr. Harsh Vardhan said
that the Central Government and
Tamilnadu Chief Minister Shri M.
Karunanidhi should not misread the
patience of Hindus as cowardice.
The BJP is maintaining patience in
the interest of the nation. If it will
become intolerable then the
consequences shall be disastrous,
he said.
Prominent among others who
addressed the gathering were Shri
M. Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Vijay Goel,
Shri Om Prakash Kohli, Shri Jagdish
Mukhi, Shri Ram Bhaj, Shri S.S.
Bajwa, Shri Abdul Rasheed, Shri
Ramesh Bidhuri, Shri Pawan Sharma,
Shri Shyam Lal Garg, Shri Satya
Joshi, Shri Sahab Singh Chauhan,
Shri Surya Bhan Pandey, Shri
Subash Arya and Shri Vijender
Gupta. n

20

BJP workers protest against

hurting feelings on Ram
From Our Correspondent

n response to the call issued by

the Bharatiya Janata Party, party
units all over the country and at
district headquarters organized
strong protest on October 2- the
Gandhi Jayanti Day against UPA
governments move to injure
national feelings by attacking Sri
Ram and Sri Ram Setu with the recital
of Ram Dhun RAGHUPATI
RAGHAV RAJA RAM, and the
SUNDARKAND from Ramcharit
Manas.
Earlier, issuing the call BJP
National Vice-President Shri
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi called upon
BJP karyakartas all over the country
to register their protest.
Shri Naqvi stated that the
Central Governments affidavit
denying the existence of Lord Sri
Ram, the Congress Partys ally Shri
Karunanidhis insulting comments
about Sri Ram and taking no action
against the Minister responsible for
that disgraceful affidavit are the clear
examples of perverse mind-set of the
Congress Party and the UPA
government.
He added that the silence of
the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan
Singh, the Congress President Smt.
Sonia Gandhi on the affidavit and
Shri Karunanidhis statement as well
as the statement of the Congress
governments several ministers go
to prove that this entire anti-Sri Ram
campaign has silence support of Smt
Sonia Gandhi and the Prime
Minister.
Shri Naqvi added that this is a
matter of grave concern that despite
October 16-31,

2007 m 20

insulting and shameful comments

of the DMK against Lord Sri Ram,
the DMK party continues to be a
component of the central
government. The Karunanidhi
government in Tamilnadu is
resorting to violent attack on

Rambhakts and the central

government by keeping silence on
these developments is inciting the
morale of such evil forces.
Shri Naqvi observed that the
Congress-led government is
denying the existence of Sri Ram
and talking of historical proofs
about Lord Sri Ram whose
inspiration and devotion helped the
Father of Nation - Mahatma Gandhi
in banishing the Britishers from
India and in freeing the country from
the clutch of slavery. This is a crime
which cannot be condoned at all.
Shri Naqvi added that the BJP
with the recital of Ram Dhun and
Sundarkand at all district
headquarters across the country will
strongly oppose the Congress
Partys onslaught on Indian culture,
faith and traditions and demand
immediate dismissal of Karunanidhi
government in Tamilnadu. n

A Humble Salute to Loknayak

On his birthday on October
11 Kamal Sandesh salutes
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan
who ushered in the second
revolution in the country by
making the nation overthrow an
anti-democracy, anti-people
regime in 1977.

21

Interview with Dr. Raman Singh

Salwa Judum will be written about

in history once a success
Dr Raman Singh, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh,
is a medical practitioner by training. He was elected a
member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
twice between 1990 and 1998. In 1999 he won the
Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat defeating Congress
stalwart Motilal Vora. After serving as a minister in the
NDA government at the Centre, he was sent to
Chhattisgarh to head the first BJP government in the
newly carved state. Raman Singh spent an afternoon
with Express staffers answering questions. Assistant
Executive Editor Unni Rajen Shanker moderated the
discussion. Excerpts . . .
UNNI RAJEN SHANKER: Over
the last couple of years, there has
been a huge increase in Naxalite
violence in the state. The magnitude
of the attacks has gone up after the
formation of Salwa Judum. Do you
think Salwa Judum was a mistake?
I will agree that the Naxalite
effect has been there for the last 40
years. In the last three-four years
we made changes in the policy.
People have seen violence, there are
places with no roads, no schools,
no bridges. All these have been
destroyed by the Naxals. Initially,
people thought Naxals had come to
help them, but people now know
the Naxals are the most corrupt
people. Now, these people have
joined together in large numbers and
speak of the Naxal presence and its
ill-effects. They also tell the Naxals
to go away and let them live their
own lives in Bastar. This is what
Salwa Judum is all about. Its nonviolent and no political party can
October 16-31,

2007 m 21

run it. No party has such a cadre. It

will be written about in the history
books once its a success.
We are ready to talk to the
Naxals, but they are extorting money
from the tribals in the name of
working for their rights. Salwa
Jadums motive is to bring back
peace.
It is also correct that there have
been more deaths in the last twothree years. The Naxals think the
Salwa Judum revolution should be
ended. This is a fight of thoughts
(ideologies) that is going on. Its
not government-sponsored, but we
are helping them in whatever way
we can.
AMITAV RANJAN: You have
been meeting the Home Ministry to
demand extra Central forces for hot
pursuit of Naxalites. Whats the
position right now? What is the role
of the Centre in that?
Its unfortunate. Theres a
policy for the North-East, Jammu &

Kashmir, Punjab. Ive told the Prime

Minister that the Naxal problem is
not localised. Its not a local law &
order problem. At least this should
be acknowledged. The next
important thing that should be
acknowledged is that at the national
level, the Prime Minister, the Home
Minister and the Chief Minister of a
state should work together on an
integrated action plan. Ive seen the
kind of security blanket Srinagar has
been given. Ive asked for such a
policy. Ive said that (to tackle the
Naxalite problem) we should have a
joint task force in conjunction with
neighbouring states. We also need
a five-year development plan for
Naxal-affected regions. Ive told the
Home Minister that we lack roads,
infrastructure, and even security and
police personnel. But the problem is
that discussions are held, our
opinions taken, but these schemes
are not implemented.
VINAY JHA: You have talked

22

about joint task forces, unified generation of police personnel. us about the incident as per your
policies. But there is criticism that Someone with a 44-inch waist cant understanding.
whatever assistance the state is run for 16 km fire shots and come
In and after 2004, there have
being provided is not being utilised back. We are training a new been many small and big encounters
properly the funding or the generation, some 3,000 personnel, with Naxals. I dont know about the
forces. What do you have to say on in a jungle warfare college. We are specific incident in Andhra Pradesh.
this?
training boys to be able to go for 20 This is the second stage of Naxal
We are given funds and we do km in the jungles, fight and come violence. They dont want to
work with them. We talked about back. But it will take time. Naxalism discuss anything, just attack and
three issues: we need funds to raise is a 30-40 year problem. But if we loot our district headquarters, jails,
a battalion, we need bulletpolice stations. There should
proof jackets, vehicles, new
be
no
question
of
AMITAV RANJAN: You
weapons, other equipment.
compromising with them, or
have tried a lot to establish
We want to take all this to
saving them if they have
the police-station level.
fallen. If that happens, it will
Internet and IT connectivity
Forty per cent of our police
be demoralising for the local
in your state. What has been
stations work from buildings
people and the police
your success rate in that?
that are more than 50 years
personnel. In Chhattisgarh,
We did three things. First, we
old and have no boundary
we havent till date been told
connected all district headquarters
walls. They dont even have
to hold back and not move
in two years. Then we introduced
proper fencing. With the
forward against the Naxalites.
the concept of e-classrooms,
state budget finances, we
In Chhattisgarh, we have
connected engineering colleges
have employed 13,000 police
also managed to get together
personnel in three years,
everyone on the issue.
and hospitals. Our state treasuries
something no other state
Ninety MLAs of the ruling
are all connected and so are our
has done. But when it
party, the Opposition, police
patwaris. We get day-to-day
comes to achieving
officers, and the chief
information on revenue collection,
connectivity for police
secretary attended the
people have obtained deed papers
stations by laying roads,
closed-door meeting, which
for their land. We also tied up with
for example it becomes
went on for eight hours. We
25-30 private people and asked them
difficult. Laying a kilometre
discussed the governments
to help with railway tickets, air
of road takes a year. The
role and told them to raise
tickets, birth and death certificates.
contractor comes and his
objections if they had any. I
Now we have connectivity at village
equipment and trucks are set
also unveiled my future plan
afire. Roads laid using
against the Naxalites. The
level too. At the click of a mouse,
bitumen
have
been
meeting was quite successful,
information on population, cattle,
destroyed and they are just
and we conveyed the details
water pumps, irrigation facilities and
mud paths now. After 12
to the Home Ministry. At least
so forth is available.
tenders are out, one
on the Naxal issue, there are
contractor applies. As soon
not many differences
as he starts work, a couple of work on this patiently and with a amongst us in Chhattisgarh.
grenades are thrown and work is cool head, well make Chhattisgarh
VARGHESE K GEORGE:
a better place. When will that Despite all this not many of your
stalled.
Utilising funds by purchasing happen? I cannot say.
party MLAs are happy with you.
SHEKHAR GUPTA: We heard Why?
stuff is fine, but the problem is
different, the terrain is difficult, that in Andhra, the Naxalites were
Thats a very good question:
strengthening infrastructure is a once encircled and could have been what is the desired level of
annihilated. But it was sensed that satisfaction? In politics, this
tough task.
But we are working fast in other because of instructions from Delhi, (dissidence) has been happening
areas, like policing. We are raising they were freed. You are sitting in and will continue to happen. Its
and training an entire new a Naxal-affected state. Please tell decided that there will be only one
October 16-31,

2007 m 22

23

chief minister and a cabinet of 12

ministers. Not everyone can be made
the chief minister, and nor can
different people be made chief
minister for different times in the
tenure. But I have got an
opportunity and am working on it.
But there are other people who may
be more accomplished than me, but
they havent got the chance. They
may feel they deserved the post,
but people in the party make the
decision.
VANDITA MISHRA: But the
infighting in Chhattisgarh is the
most. More than in all BJP-ruled
states, is it not?
Theres infighting in every
state, whether ruled by the
Congress or the BJP. For example,
in Chhattisgarh, for the last two
years, the Congress hasnt been able
to elect a state president. We (the
BJP) have a president, generalsecretary etc.
But we dont compare
ourselves with the Congress. Be it
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh or even Rajasthan,
wherever we are in government, we
sit together and decide on issues.
SHEKHAR GUPTA: Like in all
other states, even in Chhattisgarh
politics has become very bitter,
there are cases and counter-cases.
On one side there was Judeo and on
the other Jogi. Why that level of
bitterness? Do you think that, since
both parties have been equally
affected by Naxalites, it has brought
them close to each other? Or is the
bitterness persisting?
In politics, if you treat the
opposition like an enemy, it causes
problems. Whatever our experience
with three years of Congress
government, we havent done
anything to crush the Opposition
lathi-charges or filing false cases.
No Opposition leader can say we
are meting out injustice to them.
October 16-31,

2007 m 23

Every subject is discussed.

Everyday. And full freedom is given
to them. In Chhattisgarh I feel we
have done better than other states.
We have created a good
atmosphere.
SHEKHAR GUPTA: Whats
the status of diamond prospecting
in your state?
De Beers and six or seven of
the worlds biggest companies are
working in Chhatisgarh. We give
them 5,000 square kilometres for
prospecting, then they come down
to working in 1,000 square
kilometres. Its a very long process.
The big players have come to the
second stage in prospecting. In four
or five years they will reach the
mining stage.
Even in gold, weve made
progress. Some matters are in high
court, and in the Supreme Court.
The day diamonds are found in
Chhattisgarh, we wont have to
depend on other resources. I also
joke that the day Chhattisgarh
diamonds reach the market, the
prices will fall. But even De Beers
understands that Chhattisgarh
diamonds are better than those from
South Africa. But these companies
take time to work. For now, they
have stocks to last them in sales for
ten years.
If those stocks are opened, and
diamonds from Chhattisgarh also
arrive in the market, prices will
definitely fall, because prices are
decided by availability. They know
this.
What will the Chhattisgarh
government get? Just royalty. We
will however get value-addition
such as cutting and polishing
done in the state itself, generating
employment. We hope to provide
jobs to 10,000-50,000 people.
BHAWESH MISHRA: There
might be an election soon. If the
NDA comes back to power, who,

according to you, should be the next

Prime Minister? And who will be
the next Prime Minister?
Thanks for saying this. This
kind of prediction feels good! One
cant say when elections will take
place. But in the BJP it has been
decided for some time now that our
established leaders, Atalji and
Advaniji, and the parliamentary
board will decide. Atalji, Advaniji
and Rajnathji are already there.
There are a lot of people, but the
board will decide.
VARGHESE K GEORGE: You
say the BJP will come back to
power in 2008, but when it does,
will you want to be Chief Minister
again?
This is very clear. I was in Delhi
for four years as a minister. They
told me to go to the state as the
party president. I resigned as
minister and went to Chhattisgarh
as the state party president. I wasnt
promised chief ministership when I
went. The party told me to go and
I did. Later, the central leadership
and the representatives decided to
make me the Chief Minister. In the
next elections, the BJP and the
elected representatives will decide
the next Chief Minister. Its the
organisation that has brought me to
the level of Chief Minister. I cant
decide who will be the next Chief
Minister.
VARGHESE K GEORGE:
Theres a belief that because of
Chhattisgarhs tribal and nontribal politics, now only a tribal will
become the Chief Minister.
The candidate can be tribal or
SC/ST. In the BJP, whether in
Chhattisgarh or in other parts of the
nation, this kind of thought process
does not exist. For everyone, the
door of opportunity is open and he
gets a chance according to his
performance. n
(Courtesy: The Indian Express)

24

K. Jana Krishnamurthy

A legacy of Devotion and Dedication

By V. Shanmugnathan

imply a great personality

Janaji passed away leaving
behind a great legacy for the
future generation to follow...
A simpleton to the core,
donning a white dhoti and simple
kurta, silent but with a searching
look.... was the image of Shri K. Jana
Krishnamurthy. The national capital
of Delhi was dazzled by his
eloquence, depth of his knowledge.
He was the National President of
BJP in 2001 and 2002 for two years
when he traveled far and wide in the
entire country. He could tour and
guide the state team in different
parts of the country. He laid stress
on building a team of karyakartas at
every level. People now recall his
simplicity, ideological commitment
and spirit of sacrifice.
A great orator from his college
days, he won numerous prizes. His
oratory in Tamil and English are well
known. He was excellent in
translation from English, Hindi to

October 16-31,

2007 m 24

Tamil and had

translated speeches
of leaders like Shri
Atalji, Shri Advaniji
and others. He was
a good writer too.
P e o p l e
wondered how this
intelligent man from
South India joined
BJP and ultimately
became President of
the Party. K Jana
Krishnamurthy was
born in a fourth generation family of
lawyers family on 24 May, 1928 in
Madurai (Tamil Nadu) He practiced
law in Madurai for about 12 years.
He joined RSS in 1940 and
functioned as a Pracharak of
Madurai city till 1951, when he lost
his father. Later, he rose to be the
Prant Baudhik Pramukh of Tamil
Nadu. He joined Bharatiya Jana
Sangh in 1965 and became the state
secretary of the party.

In
the
aftermath of the
murder of Pt.
D e e n d a y a l
Upadhyaya
in
1968, he gave up
his lucrative law
practice to devote
full time to BJS.
Later, he became
Tamil Nadu BJS
General Secretary
(Organization).
D u r i n g
Emergency in 1975 he was made the
secretary of mass awakening
movement in Tamil Nadu. In 1977,
when BJS merged in Janata Party,
he was made a member of National
Executive of Janata Party and
General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu
Unit. At the formation of BJP in 1980,
he was one of the founder secretaries
of BJP. In 1983, he became one of
the General Secretaries and from
1985 he was the Vice President of
the Party. From 1980 to 1990, he was
put in charge of four southern states
of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh to look after
strengthening of the party there.
In 1993, he came over to Delhi
and was in charge of intellectual,
Economic, Defence, Foreign Affairs
cells. In 1995 he was in charge of
BJP Headquarters and also the
party spokesperson. In 2002 he was
elected to Rajya Sabha and served
as Law Minister. He had visited
China and Philippines.
His cremation took place on
September 26, 2007 in which Shri
Rajnath Singh, Shri Narendra Modi
participated. n

25

BJP concerned over Nepal

election postponement
From Our Correspondent

JP President Shri Rajnath

Singh on October 5
expressed concern over the
postponement of elections in Nepal.
He said that the present parliament
in Nepal had completed its term way
back in October 2002. Since then
the electoral process to form a
constituent
assembly
has
continuously been delayed. Now the
election to the constituent assembly
scheduled on 22nd November have
been postponed indefinitely under
the Maoist pressure. The
constituent assembly is a major part
of the peace agreement under which
the Seven Parties Alliance is
running the government.
Shri
Singh
said
the
postponement of elections under
the threat of street protests by the
Maoists is a severe blow to ushering
in of a democratic environment
reflecting the will of the people
through free and fair elections. The
looming political uncertainty for
long provides the opportunity for
fundamentalist forces to further
strengthen their control in Nepal.
This should be a matter of concern
for India.
BJP President regretted that the
Maoists are now trying to force the
interim Parliament to immediately
abolish the monarchy. Since this
formed an integral part of the basic
political and constitutional structure
of Nepal, any decision on this
should not be taken by the interim
parliament but only by a properly
elected constituent assembly and,
in any case, not be forced upon
under the threat of violent street

October 16-31,

2007 m 25

protest.
Shri Rajnath Singh said Nepal is a close neighbour of ours with open
borders. If democracy in true spirit is not established in Nepal, any
development there is bound to have repercussions in India. It should be
a matter of concern for all of us in India.
Shri Rajnath Singh asked the government of India to make its stand
clear on the recent political developments in Nepal. n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eminent jurist
L M Singhvi no more
From Our Correspondent
Former RS MP and eminent jurist Dr. L. M. Singhvi died in Delhi on
October 6. Born in 1931 at Jodhpur in
Rajasthan, Dr. Singhvi was a constitutional
expert and a member of the Third Lok Sabha
from 1962-67. He had the distinction of
having worked with the great constitutional
maker, late Shri K. M. Munshi. A scholar of
Jain history, Hindu philosophy and culture,
Dr. Singhvi also served as High
Commissioner for India in UK. He was
conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1998 and
was BJP MP in Rajya Sabha in 1999. He was also editor of Hindi Monthly
Sahitya Amrit. Seventy six-year-old Singhvi, who was ailing for the past
few weeks, is survived by a son and a daughter.
Former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of
Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri L. K. Advani and BJP National President,
Shri Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Shri Jaswant
Singh, former Union Ministers Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Shri M. Venkaiah
Naidu, Shri Arun Jaitley, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and :Prof. Vijay Kumar
Malhotra have condoled his death as a great loss to the nation and the
legal fraternity.
It has been a great loss to Kamal Sandesh to which Dr. Singhvi had
been a regular contributor. His last article has been published in the
Kamal Visheshank SANKALP to be released shortly. Kamal Sandesh
joins the nation in paying tributes to him. n

26

Left government is exposed

West Bengal boils over PDS corruption

Three persons dead
From Our Correspondent

he revolt over the demand

for a corruption free public
distribution system in West
Bengal is spreading like wildfire
across West Bengal. The escalating
violence over protest against
corruption in the PDS system has
already claimed three lives in
Burdwan, Bankura and Birbhum
districts in police firing. The series
of violent protests against the
corrupt ration dealers were sparked
off after people complained that
they were not supplied wheat, rice
or sugar for the last few months,
though the distributors were issued
the supplies from the state food
department. Angry people are now
demanding that the Left parties
should concentrate less on stepping
up the ante over the Indo-US nuke
deal and more on ensuring that
people are given food.
As the movement against
corruption in public distribution
system turned violent in three
districts in West Bengal, opposition
Trinamool Congress demanded a
CBI inquiry into the alleged food
scam. With violent protests against
unscrupulous ration dealers
spreading like wildfire, the state
government started a damage
control exercise with the chief
minister appealing for peace and the
food supplies minister announcing
that action has been taken against
two food department officials.
Faced with threats of mass
resignation from ration dealers, Shri
Bhattacharjee condemned the
attacks on ration dealers and
appealed to the people to refrain

October 16-31,

2007 m 26

from taking law into their own hands.

The Chief Minister took recourse to
the partys age-old strategy of
blaming the Centre for the situation
saying: We have time and again
asked the Centre to increase the
allocation of wheat, rice and
kerosene but remained silent on
the unscrupulous dealers and
allegations of selling off the food
grains meant for public distribution
in open market.
People demanding foodgrains
are being shot at by the police. How

long will the Centre remain silent?

Will it keep quiet only because
CPI(M) is supporting the UPA
government? Trinamool Congress
President Sushri Mamata Banerjee
asked.
The words of Opposition
parties in West Bengal are falling
on deaf ears as the Congress ledGovernment at the Centre has neither
the will nor the courage to rein in
the Left parties who are literally on
a spree of hurting the common man.
n

Peeved at JD(S) perfidy

BJP withdraws support to

Kumaraswamy Govt
From Our Correspondent
The BJP Parliamentary Board in its meeting on October 6 decided to
withdraw support from the coalition government in Karnataka on account
of the refusal by the JD(S) to honour the power-sharing agreement with the
BJP and hand over power to them after 20 months of rule.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, former Union Minister
and party in charge of Karnataka, Shri Yashwant Sinha said " The meeting
between BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Devegowda last night
did not lead to any positive development. Therefore the party has decided
to pull out from the coalition government thus paving the way for mid-term
polls."
He said, "The JD(S) decision (not to transfer power) is an insult to the
2004 mandate which was in favour of the BJP and we want fresh elections
in Karnataka."
Earlier, senior BJP leader Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that not
honouring the power-sharing pact was the biggest betrayal.
The meeting of BJP Parliamentary Board was presided over by the BJP
President Shri Rajnath Singh. Karnataka BJP Legislature Party leader Shri
B S Yeduriyappa and Party State president Shri Sadananda Gowda were
also present at the meeting. n

27

State Reports
from Our Correspondents

Jammu & Kashmir

BJP to expose J&K Ministers

he J&K Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to

launch a tirade against corrupt Ministers in the
Ghulam Nabi Azad Cabinet to mobilize public
opinion ahead of the 2008 Assembly election. To begin
with, the State BJP leaders on October 3 dared the Chief
Minister to sack Health Minister Shri Mangat Ram
Sharma if he is seriously interested in fighting corruption
in the State. BJP has decided to open the front against
the Congress Chief Minister at a time when he is already
hounded by allegations of favouring his own brother.
The said case is pending in the Jammu High court.
We are going to expose all the corrupt elements
in the Congress-led coalition Government one by one
in the days to come, the BJP leaders said addressing
a joint Press conference at Jammu.
At the time of the elections we will go to the people
and ask them to compare the assets of their elected
representatives before and after they came to power,
BJP leaders said urging the Chief Minister to order a
high level probe to nail the corrupt Ministers in his
Cabinet. The BJP leaders also distributed a
comprehensive list of properties and pictures with their
value running into crores.
The properties were bought by the Congress
Minister and his family members across various cities
immediately after Mangat Ram Sharma was inducted
into the State Cabinet, the BJP leaders said. Issuing
copies of an open letter addressed to Chief Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad, State general secretaries and former
MLAs Bali Bhagat and Shamsher Singh Manhas told
reporters at the party headquarters, the Chief Minister
has done enough to eradicate corruption but it is not
just enough as certain elements in his Council of
Ministers are involved in corrupt practices, looting
public, exchequer and purchasing immovable properties
in posh commercial markets in Jammu, Delhi and
Gurgaon.
Releasing pictures of the immovable properties
owned by former Deputy Chief Minister, BJP leaders
said the Congress leader and his sons were the talk of
the town as they have amassed disproportionate assets.
The BJP leaders said they have also sent copies of
open letters to both President and the Prime Minister
of India, Governor and Vigilance Commissioner to take
stock of the corruption index in the militancy infested
State.

October 16-31,

2007 m 27

Delhi

Onions bring tears

in Aam Aadm's eyes

he Delhi Pradesh BJP President Dr Harsh Vardhan

has condemned the failure of Delhi Government
for the steep price spiral of all the essential
commodities, as a result of which women are feeling
more harassed during the rule of a woman Chief Minister.
Addressing a dharna organised by Mahila Morcha
against price rise and harassment of women at Jantar
Mantar on October 6, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pitied the
plight of the vegetable producer and vegetable
consumer while middle men and the speculators are
profiteering. There is no scarcity of onion, potato, tomato
etc in the country. It is due to the failure of the
Government machinery and the corruption that price
spiral is not being curbed. The Government has not
raided even a single hoarder so far. The mandi mafia is
so strong that they have slapped the Chief Minister by
selling onions at a price lower than the Government
stalls. They have shown that the Delhi Government is
weak and mandi mafia stronger being protected by the
Congress leaders.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the Sheila Government
has failed to provide water to the people but it wants
to flow the river of wine in Delhi. There has been increase
in the incidents of crime against women. The rape of a
woman doctor in a hospital shows that the government
had spared the rod against anti-social elements. He
alleged that Government is also conspiring to push
children towards sexual perversion by providing sex
education in the schools.
Mahila Morcha President Mrs. Vishakha Sailani
alleged that the prices of essential commodities
including vegetables have increased many times in Delhi
and it seems there is nothing like Government in Delhi.
Now the morale of anti social element is so high that
they are attacking women in public transport buses.
The women are not safe in Delhi during the rule of a
woman Chief Minister. She said that the Chief Minister,
who cannot protect her people and cannot provide
essential commodities to the people, has no right to
continue in office.
The women participating in Dharna had garlands
of onions around their necks. They demanded
resignation of Chief Minister. With the banners of Mahila

28

Morcha in their hands, hundreds of women resolved

that they shall dislodge this anti-women and anti-people
Government. Pradesh General Secretary Pawan Sharma,
former MP Anita Arya, Shri Rajesh Yadav, Smt.
Shakuntla Arya etc. addressed the women sitting on
dharna. Pradesh Vice President Ramesh Vidhuri,
Councillor Sarita Chaudhary, Vimlesh Vidhuri, Poonam
Bhati, Neelam Budhiraja, Kamlesh Sharma, Mandeep
Kaur, Malti Verma, Sangita Jindal, Lata etc participated
in the dharna.

Arunanchal Pradesh

BJP dharna on Ram Sethu

Arunachal Pradesh State BJP Unit staged a
demonstration at the Lagun Bridge in Itanagar on
September 12 in protest against the Sethu Samudram
Canal Project in its present form.
Shouting slogans against the Centre, the protesters

Karnataka

BJP widens its net in

Municipal elections
Captures Bellary too

n the just concluded elections to local bodies

in Karnatak, BJP has recorded an impressive
win. In 14 out of 44 CMCs BJP has won a
clear majority. 17 out of 94 TMCs are in BJPs
kitty now. In Town Panchayat elections,
BJP has recorded a win in 14 out of 65. Out
of a total of 5008 wards the party BJP had
contested only 3640 wards and won in
1128 wards as against only 351 seats won
in the last elections.
BJP also won absolute majority in four
City Councils. The notable win is in Bellary
city forming part of the Bellary constituency
which had returned Smt. Sonia Gandhi in
1999 Parliament elections.
City
1. Bellary
2. Mangalore
3. Davanagere
4. Hubli Dharwad
October 16-31,

2007 m 28

expressed apprehension that the project in its present

form would allow the dredging operations in Palk Straits,
which would damage the Ram Sethu. They demanded
that the present alignment should be altered to save the
Ram Sethu.
The State BJP General Secretary Shri Tai Tagak
said the work on the project should be immediately
stopped unless the concerns expressed by the people
and scientists were addressed. Quoting Dr.
Badrinarayan, a well-known geologist who had been
the director of the Geological Survey of India, he said,
The corals in the Adams bridge are in a grave threat
of extinction from the under sea excavating as scientist
have authenticated the fact.
Further, sensitive eco-system of the strait would
be destroyed and create an ecological disaster which
could lead to lesser harvest by the fisherman of the
neighbouring coastal areas from the sea, he added.
The area is geologically and geo-tectonically very
sensitive which, if disturbed, could lead to tsunamis
and submerging of the coastal areas in Tamil Nadu and
Kerala. The far-reaching effects could also result in
earthquakes in the North East which is a belt
seismologically active, he said.
About 25 BJP workers were arrested by the Police
but were released later. Prominent among others who
addressed the gathering were BJYM president Shri
Chau Ambika Engling who took the government to task
for spiralling prices of essential commodities.
The State BJP also submitted a Memorandum to
the Governor and sought his intervention in convincing
the central government to halt the project. n

The Local Bodies where BJP won a clear majority

29

BJP Investor Cell Conference

Vows to protect Small Investors

From Our Correspondent

he BJP Investor cell has

organized a conference on
Investor Protection in
Economic Regime at FICCI
auditorium on September 28, 2007.
Its primary aim was to benefit and
protect Small Investors
Inaugurating the Conference
BJP National President Shri Rajnath
Singh
wanted
increased
participation of Small Investors in
reaping the benefit of overall
economic growth. He regretted that
the gap between haves and havenots was widening which
will lead to chaos in
society. Referring to one
way movement in Sensex
to 17000 he said there
appears something fishy
(Dal mein Kala) and
demanded
the
Government
and
regulatory authorities to
take adequate measures
to protect the crores of
small investors in the
country.
Shri Rajnath Singh
said that policies of UPA
Government
were
exposing the internal security,
National security, Food Security,
Energy security etc. to grave
threats.
He demanded the Government
to provide information about source
of funding through Participatory
Notes and to ensure a proper
balance between FIls and small
investors in the capital market.
He said the Indian economy is
indeed growing but not the way BJP
envisioned. In three years of its rule
October 16-31,

2007 m 29

UPA has mismanaged the economy

on all fronts of creating unparalleled
dissatisfaction, thereby disturbing
the basic fiber of economic thread
(Satisfaction-Santosh).
Investment expert Shri Kirit
Somaiya ex-MP said the share
market should be strong and
healthy. Shri Jagdish Shettigar
questioned the role and style of
Finance Minister in the movements
of share market
In his address Investor Cell
National Convenor Shri Arun Singh

Income Tax Act which UPA

Government abolished with
enhancement of exemption limit
to Rs 20,000.
2. Setting up of Real Estate
Regulatory Authority at
National Level
3. White Paper by Central
Government on Investments
through Participatory Notes
(PNs) and by Financial
Institutional Investors (FIIs)
4. Exemption of PAN Card for
opening DEMAT account for

briefly outlined the aims and

objectives of the Cell and raised
issues affecting the small investors.
A signature campaign with Four
Point Charter of Demands was
launched with signatures of BJP
President and other dignitaries
present in the conference. BJP
Investor Cell has decided to reach
over ten lakhs small investors and
get their signature on the following
four-point charter of demands:
1. Reintroduction of Sec 80L of

farmers, students, housewives

and senior citizens whose
income is below taxable limit
A book titled Investor
Protection in Economic Regime
was released by the Party President
in the conference.
Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra and
Shri Vijay Goel were present as
Special Guests while the experts
included Dr. Kirit Somaiya, Dr.
Jagdish Shettigar, and Dr.Rajni
Abba. n

30

Arti Mehra attends UN event

on Climate Change
Local Authorities are beacon of hope, she says
From Our Correspondent

n the invitation of UN
Secretary General Ban Kimoon, the Mayor of Delhi
Municipal Corporation Smt. Arti
Mehra attended a high-level event
on climate change on September
24, 2007 at United Nations
Headquarters in New York under the
title: The future in our Hands:
Addressing the Leadership
Challenge of Climate Change.
Excerpts from her address:
We have taken several steps
to promote energy efficiency,
sustainable transport, and
renewable energy in Delhi, with
associated benefits for reduction of
air pollution, electricity demand,
water availability, and employment.
For example, we have the worlds
largest bus fleet run on clean fuel
and fast expanding the metro
network, use of renewable energy
for large buildings and townships,
and in particular, for the new
facilities to be created for the 2010
Commonwealth Games.
So, my first message to you
today is that Local Authorities are
an important beacon of hope to the
global community that action can
be positive and empowering.
My second message is that
we can provide some important
learning from our experiences that
we can share with you. Globally
many local authorities have
developed and implemented a raft
of programs for example ICLEIs
Cities for Climate Protection
campaign to address energy
October 16-31,

2007 m 30

efficiency, sustainable transport,

waste management, and
environmental
protection
generally, in over a decade of
action on the ground,. These
too, have led to visible
improvement in citizens lives,
while having positive impacts on
emissions.
My third message is simple:
While the important and
necessary
conversations,
negotiations and debates continue
within and between the nations, we
urge you to directly invest in Local
Authorities right now so that we
can all benefit from reductions of
present and future emissions and
better management of the local
environment.

She concluded her speech with

a citation from the Holy Vedas
Sarva asha mum mithram
bhavantu , Meaning: Live as if you
are one with the trees, the rivers, the
mountains and the whole Universe
will embrace you like a friend. Indeed
the future is in our hands.
n

Continued from page 8

2) Generous rehabilitation measures for the families of kisans who have
committed suicide.
3) Time-bound completion of all the irrigation schemes in Telangana to
lessen the burden on farmers who are today required to dig borewells deeper and deeper at enormous cost, often taking loans from
private moneylenders at usurious interest rates.
4) Provision of easy and timely credit to farmers through banks, and
mandating them to widen their network of Grameen Banks in villages.
5) Setting up of a price stabilization fund for farm produce.
6) Modification in the guidelines of the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme so that kisans, especially small and marginal
kisans, do not suffer labour shortage at critical times of farming
operations.
7) Reforms in the functioning of the Commission on Agricultural Costs
and Prices (CACP) so as to take into account the rising input prices
on a district-to-district basis. Specifically, district-level representation
of kisans on CACP.
8) Suitable action by the govt. of Andhra Paradesh in respect of the
alleged scandal in the privatization of Nizam Sugar Mills. n