BANGALORE/NEW DELHI, 15 April 2004 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said Muslims in large numbers were supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as they found that “so-called secular parties” were interested only in their votes and not their welfare.
Addressing a mammoth public rally here on Tuesday night, the prime minister denied that communalism was spreading in the country. “There is no truth in it. In fact, Muslims across the country are getting attracted toward the BJP in large numbers. What is the reason for such a dramatic change?
“The change in their (Muslims) perception has come about after realizing that other political parties have been using them merely as vote banks andwere never bothered about their welfare.
Vajpayee said the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the BJP saw the minorities as citizens of a great country, as Indians and children of this motherland.
“We see and treat them like any other human being. They must also get a share of the nation’s prosperity. They should be carried along with others in our march toward a developed country.
“Barring what happened in Gujarat (in 2002), peace and social harmony prevailed throughout the country during our tenure,” Vajpayee said.
Vajpayee said there was a need to choose political parties having mass appeal and a strong presence for governing the country with stability and providing development.
“The last time, in the absence of any single party securing majority, the BJP forged an alliance with smaller and regional parties to form a coalition government at the center.
“In spite of differences and challenges, the NDA had demonstrated successfully that it was possible to govern the country under a coalition.
“On earlier occasions, however, we had seen how governments formed by other parties with the support of the Congress could not survive long, resulting in instability and frequent elections,” Vajpayee said, referring to the short tenures of governments led by V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral between 1989 and 1996.
“The Congress, however, does not believe in forging such alliances. It was, in fact, against coalition rule in the center and dared the NDA to run for a full term.
“But we have proved it wrong and shown to the people it was possible to maintain the coalition dharma with a common agenda and commitment.”
He said India was on the threshold of explosive growth in all sectors of the economy and agriculture on account of initiatives taken by the government.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore yesterday after offering floral tributes to the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constitution, Vajpayee said there was “nothing wrong in distribution of sarees.”
He dismissed suggestions that Monday’s stampede in Lucknow, Vajpayee’s constituency, resulting in dozens of deaths had dented his image.
“Every year sarees have been distributed there. This time some thing happened and it is unfortunate,”
Vajpayee’s election campaign in Lucknow will now be handled by S. S. Ahluwalia. This is being viewed as BJP’s damage control exercise as the Lucknow stampede occurred during the birthday celebrations of Lalji Tandon, who was Vajpayee’s election manager in Lucknow.
Chief Election Commissioner T. S. Krishnamurthy yesterday ordered an inquiry to ascertain if the model code of conduct was violated during distribution of sarees.
“The report is expected in a few days and if there is violation then stern action will be taken,” sources said.
Additional input from Indo-Asian News Service
