Presidential Speeches DR. MM JOSHI
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Presidential Speeches (Part-II) • 1 Presidential Speeches DR.DR. MMMM JOSHIJOSHI Untitled-13 1 11/8/2016 12:10:16 AM 2 • Party Document Vol-3 Untitled-13 2 11/8/2016 12:10:16 AM Presidential Speeches (Part-II) • 3 National Executive Calcutta 10 April, 1993 The National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party is meeting at Calcutta after about an interval of three years. The political scenario has undergone a qualitative change during this period. The BJP has emerged as a dominant pole in Indian politics and our adversaries are unable to digest our growth. That they are in the grip of a fear psychosis is evident from the manner in which the Constitution was violated in dismissing the BJP Governments, democratic norms thrown to winds while stopping and disrupting the BJP rallies by brute force, the RSS and VHP have been banned, BJP MPs have been arrested, their residence ransacked without any rhyme or reason. Need for Healthy Centre-State Relationship The landmark judgement of the MP High Court has raised a very vital issue regarding centre-state relationship. The Colourable exercise of power under Article 356 (1) by the Centre against the States is a direct onslaught on the federal structure which is a basic feature of our Constitution. It is high time that the expressions like breakdown of the “Constitutional machinery” and “breakdown of law and order” were clearly defined and steps taken to prevent the misuse of Article 356. It is strange that opposition parties like CPI (M), who were earlier demanding even the scrapping of this Article instead of supporting the demand to honour the court verdict, are asking the Central Government to go in to appeal against this historic judgment. In fact, in the wake of this judgment, the Congress-I government at the centre has no moral right to continue in office. Untitled-13 3 11/8/2016 12:10:16 AM 4 • Party Document Vol-3 The National Executive has to deliberate on this very vital issue and evolve an effective strategy for the restoration of the elected governments and preserving the federal polity. In the opinion of the BJP, an all parties meeting be convened to decide the issue once for all. In the meantime, recommendations of Sarkaria Commission in this regard be implemented. There is also a strong case of the devolution of more financial powers to the states in order to keep the Centre-State relations healthy. The party has to consider the ways and means for getting the ban on RSS and VHP lifted and also for the construction of the Ram Temple by the existing Ram Janambhoomi Nayas. CPI (M) Misrule in W. Bengal In West Bengal the misrule of the CPI (M) Government headed by Shri Jyoti Basu has been a downhill journey for a state which was very progressive at the dawn of the independence. Today the law and order is totally collapsed, administration has been completely politicised and the Bowbazar bomb blast has clearly exposed the nexus between the top rung of the CPI (M) leaders and the criminals indulging in terrorism. The economy of the state is completely shattered, government draws loans from private parties to foot the salary bills, investments are not forthcoming and with a total of 51 lakh registered unemployed, the state of West Bengal is perhaps the most glaring example of the CPI (M) misrule. In order to continue anyhow in office, the CPI (M) is supporting the misrule of the Congress-I Government at the Centre despite all ideological contradictions. India’s Economy in Shambles The country’s economy is in shambles. The economic programme pursued by the Narasimha Rao Government has not been able to pull the country from the economic morasse. Exports are not picking up and agriculture continues to remain stagnant. Foreign debt goes on mounting and prices are skyrocketing. Pakistan Interference in India’s Internal Affairs There is open interference, indeed intervention, in India’s internal affairs by Pakistan and lately by Bangladesh. For years Untitled-13 4 11/8/2016 12:10:17 AM Presidential Speeches (Part-II) • 5 Pakistan has aided and abetted terrorism in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The recent bomb blasts in Bombay and elsewhere show that it has extended its activities in many parts of our country. The illegal migration from Bangladesh continues unchecked and has created serious political, economic and social problems in various states. India today faces multiple challenges to its security, unity and integrity. The Narasimha Rao government has only responded to these vital issues by holding meetings after meetings without achieving any concrete results. Serious efforts must be made to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state. Violation of Human Rights in Bangladesh The continuing violation of human rights and cultural rights in Bangladesh is a matter of serious concern. The spree of oppression and repression on the Hindus in recent months, desecration and destruction of a large number of temples, has forced them to leave their homes and hearths and flee in large numbers. Diplomatic initiative and educating the international opinion on this issue should be undertaken by the Government of India and the Bangladesh government should be asked to take immediate steps for their rehabilitation. Social Creed of the BJP On the ideological front too the BJP has been successful in raising a national debate about mainstream nationalism and pseudo-secularism, Hindutva and communalism. Even the CPI (M) leadership is now saying that they are ready to discuss the real tenets of Hinduism. The BJP accepts this challenge. The BJP firmly rejects the concept of theocratic state and reiterates its belief in justice to all and appeasement of none and in India being one country, one people, one culture and one nation. The party should go to the people and explain the social creed of the BJP which believes in a society free from exploitation and with no discrimination between its members on the basis of caste, creed, language or birth. The party is fully committed to the upliftment of the weaker sections. Vande Mataram! Untitled-13 5 11/8/2016 12:10:17 AM 6 • Party Document Vol-3 National Executive Sarnath (Varanasi) 13 March, 1992 The National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party is meeting at Varanasi at a juncture when a number of developments have taken place which have a vital bearing on the economic and political situation of our country. India today has not only to find solutions to its internal challenges but has also to suitably respond to the fast changing world scenario. We cannot remain in isolation or in a state of frozen inertia. The country has to move forward and march with the times. We have also to bear in mind that we are now living in a post cold-war world which has its own lessons for a country like ours having 1/7th of humanity as its population and barely 4% of the world resources to sustain it. Having realised that the post-independence developmental model has failed the country, the nation is now debating what should be the new economic structure of the country, which is confronted with mounting inflation, fast growing unemployment and spiralling price rise. Is consumerism, or the free market route, the only alternative left for us, or can we evolve some other paradigm which takes into account our aspirations and urges as well as our ethos and cultural values? This is a task before the National Executive and I believe it should be possible to suggest an integral humanistic developmental model which enables us to manage our domestic economy and also to promote suitable global linkages. This approach should also emphasise a fuller utilisation of the nation’s natural and human resources and revive the spirit of Swadeshi. In responding to the emerging global scenario we must take care on the one hand that a non-exploitative international economic order comes into being and on the other, we must Untitled-13 6 11/8/2016 12:10:17 AM Presidential Speeches (Part-II) • 7 guard ourselves from the consequences which can follow from the grouping of certain nations on the basis of religion. The political resolution adopted by the Organisition of Islamic Countries against India is a point to be considered along with the emerging economic grouping of Pakistan, Iran and Turkey supported by the Central Asian Republics. The hostile attitude of Pakistan towards India and its declared support to the subversive elements in India, assumes a serious dimension in this context. The National Executive has also to take stock of the internal political situation. The threat to our national unity and intergrity continues. The Kashmir situation, the recent happenings in Punjab and the LTTE activities, infiltration going on from Bangladesh, have all to be curbed and controlled. Immediate effective steps are needed to stop the Pakistani activities on the Rajasthan and Gujarat borders. In Bihar the mass murders and caste-wars have resulted in complete chaos. There appears to be a total collapse of the Janata Dal Government. At this juncture when the country is facing a multidimensional crisis, the people expect mature behaviour and clarity of thought from the political leadership. People are witnessing the conduct of various political parties and they will judge them on merits and not on hallow populist slogans. The BJP today has a set of leaders on the national and regional levels who are well known for their acumen and sincerity of purpose. Foreign visits of Shri LK Advani, and Shri Vajpayee have been very fruitful and the participation in international seminars on Kashmir by Shri Sikander Bakht and Shri Arun Jaitley have been well received.