The Hindu : BJD vows to fight 'communal forces'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

Other States

Other States - Orissa

BJD vows to fight 'communal forces'

By Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR JAN. 11. The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Orissa has declared war on communal forces. But strangely, it is refusing to name the "enemy'' against whom the war will be waged.

After a prolonged meeting of its executive committee on Friday, the BJD secretary general and Panchayati Raj Minister, Damodar Rout, proclaimed that the party would fight both the Congress and communal and divisive forces in the State.

However, Dr. Rout refused to name the communal forces. On the contrary, he lost his temper as mediapersons pressed him for an answer. The press conference ended abruptly as mediapersons walked out in protest at the Minister's behaviour.

Even as the BJD leadership betrayed reluctance to openly take on the BJP, it is apparent that the party has embarked on a campaign to undercut its partner in the State.

The reasons are not far too seek. Though both are partners in the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and also share power in the State, the two have grown increasingly distrustful of each other as each feels that the other is a threat to its existence. Several BJD leaders had criticised the BJP at a meeting organised to mark the party's foundation day recently and called for checkmating its growth in the State.

Although the Chief Minister and BJD president, Naveen Patnaik, was silent on the issue, the criticism by his colleagues had evoked a strong reaction from the BJP. "The BJD leaders' remarks exposed their double standards,'' the BJP had said.

The BJD's deepening fears about the BJP resurfaced on Friday when the party's State executive resolved to create public awareness against divisive and communal forces while fighting the "anti-people'' programmes of the Congress.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Mr. Patnaik, observed that the BJD was opposed to fundamentalist thinking and efforts would be made to maintain its secular credentials while running a coalition Government.

BJP insiders are of the view that the BJD was apprehensive of its alliance partner's growth and was trying its best to keep its vote bank intact, particularly after the BJP's victory in the Gujarat polls.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

BJD vows to fight 'communal forces'

Orissa amends rules to check transfer of tribal lands