The Hindu : BJP chief for nationwide campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

BJP chief for nationwide campaign

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM DEC. 27. The State executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which concluded its "brain-storming session'' here on Friday, resolved to take up an aggressive campaign against the attempt of "pseudo-secularists to tarnish our image by twisting the national executive decision to replicate Gujarat show in other States.''

Taking exception to the campaign launched by the Congress and the Left parties against Hindutva after the spectacular performance of the party under the leadership of Narendra Modi in Gujarat, the party decided to hold more interactive sessions with the minorities to win their confidence.

In his valedictory address, the party president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, said that the BJP should take up a nationwide campaign against "pseudo-secularism and our opponents' indifference to national security.''

He also said that the party should campaign for an effective law against conversion by fraudulent means. "This is not merely an issue that agitates only the Hindus but is closely linked to the interest of national integration. Conversion by these methods is not tolerated in any country. We also need to campaign for effective use of POTA against terrorists and anti-national forces by the State Governments.''

Mr. Naidu hailed the party's success in Gujarat and said that the election results had offered an opportunity to articulate effectively the concerns of the people on major issues. "Let us take up an effective campaign to highlight our landmark achievements and unique initiatives of the BJP-led Union Government,'' he said.

The executive decided to expand the party base in constituencies where it had chances to win in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections due in 2004. Mr. Naidu called upon the AP unit to expand the party across the State and identify potential constituencies for both Lok Sabha and Assembly where BJP had winning chances.

The meeting was attended by the Union Ministers, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Bandaru Dattatreya and U.V. Krishnam Raju, the former party president, Bangaru Laxman, the BJP legislature party leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, and all the State office-bearers of the party.

Mr. Naidu urged the partymen to highlight the initiatives taken by the NDA Government like the expansion of highways, creation of the Rs.17,000 crore Railway safety fund, the National Rail Vikas Yojana by granting Rs.15,000 crores, the setting up of a task force to link major rivers and Swajaladhara drinking water project.

The BJP president gave enough indication that the time is not ripe to review its association with Telugu Desam and other parties. He made it clear that for the time being, the party's agenda is to expand its base.

Action against Anantapur

SP demanded

The State executive demanded the suspension of the Anantapur Superintendent of Police, Anjana Sinha, "for roughing up our party leaders recently at Hindupur'' and decided to take up the issue with the Government.

The State executive cited the SP's "confession'' that she had assaulted four BJP leaders when they protested against the raid conducted by some "anti-national elements'' on a theatre at Hindupur for screening `Khadgam', and condemned her action.

The meeting took a decision to depute all the MLAs to Hindupur on Sunday under the leadership of the State unit president, Chilakam Ramachandra Reddy, to stage a protest against the SP's action. The BJP Legislature Party leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, said that the police allowed the miscreants, who raised slogans of `Pakistan zindabad' go scot-free, while arresting the former Hindupur Municipal Chairman, Vidyasagar, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader, Ramesh Reddy, and others under various sections.

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