Cornering the government on price rise and the Nuclear Liability Bill will be high on the agenda of BJP, which will also focus on galvanising the organisation at the grassroots level as per the roadmap outlined by party president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday.
In his first address to his new team of office bearers, Mr. Gadkari mostly dwelt on rejuvenating the party at the “organisational, political and electoral planning levels.”
“(Electoral) Committees and units will be formed across the country. Each office-bearer has been asked to travel and spend eight days every month in his area on political activity,” BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar told reporters here.
Office-bearers have been assigned States from where they have to gather crowds and manage affairs for the rally.
Mr.Gadkari plans to hold training camps at tehsil and district levels on ideological and contemporary issues.
“Training will also be imparted to the cadre in use of new age communication technology,” Mr. Kumar said.
Members have been asked to get in touch with the grassroots workers of the party and work towards increasing membership, mobilising people for rallies, etc.
Mr. Kumar said the meeting was dominated by a detailed discussion on ‘gherao’ of Parliament against price rise on April 21 by BJP activists. All State units have been asked to mobilise cadres in thousands for the public meeting to be held at Ramlila grounds here which will be followed by a march to Parliament and court arrest.
“Details were sought from the state units about the preparations for Sansad Chalo rally. Lakhs of party workers from across the country will reach the capital in 30 trains and several buses. We plan to agitate peacefully and our aim is to draw attention of the government by marching to Parliament which will be on then,” the BJP general secretary said.
52-year-old Gadkari who took over the reins of the party in December last year appointed a new team in March.
It was also decided that the next BJP National Executive will be held in Patna in the last week of May or first week of June. The venue has been chosen keeping in mind that Bihar goes to polls later this year.
BJP’s role in Parliament also came up for discussion, Mr. Kumar said, adding “As we have already said earlier, we will bring cut-motions in Parliament (against the budget). Other parties can also support us or bring their own cut-motions.”
“Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley have been given the responsibility to talk to all concerned and form an opinion on Foreign Universities Bill and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, which is in the best interest of the country,” the BJP general secretary said.
Mr. Kumar accused the government of lacking clarity on the aims of these two proposed legislations. He maintained that the government had not taken the opposition into confidence on the Foreign Universities Bill.
When it was pointed out that HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had met senior BJP leader M M Joshi on the issue, Mr. Kumar said, “Sibal was asked to bring more details and draft of the Bill. He has not taken any step after that,” he said.
Ms. Swaraj and Mr. Jaitley will also discuss floor co-ordination with leaders from other political parties.
On the Women’s Reservation Bill, he said BJP will support it in Lok Sabha if it comes up for voting and discussion without the use of marshals.
