BHOPAL: The president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Lal Krishna Advani Sunday said Prime Minister Singh was “no different” from his predecessor Rajiv Gandhi in dealing with issues pertaining to nationalism and secularism as both the Janata Dal and Congress I indulged in the “politics of vote”.
Addressing a press conference here, the BJP chief said, “I have no hesitation in saying that as far as these issues are concerned both Singh and Gandhi are on one side of the fence and the BJP on the other”.
The rightwing Hindu based BJP is one of the allies of the National Front government.
Dwelling at length on the Ram JanambhoomiBabri Masjid issue, Advani said his party regarded it as neither a “communal or divisive dispute” nor a “conflict between Hindus and Muslims.
“If at all there is a controversy, it is between nationalism and minoritism”, he said, adding “minoritism is the biggest enemy of minorities in the country”.
He was referring to an ancient shrine in the city of Ayodhya which is claimed as Babri Masjid (mosque) by the Muslims and the birth place of Ram by the Hindus. The dispute is currently before the Allahabad high court, which is to give its verdict on the issue in November.
Advani said the minorities should extend full cooperation in constructing a temple at Ayodhya, as it would help in laying a strong foundation for national unity that would not crumble by pseudo secularism or politics of votes.
Rejecting the demand by some Indians that Hindus be treated as class one citizens, just as the Muslims were treated in Pakistan and the Gulf, he said India was a secular polity despite the predominance of Hindus and “let no one shut his eyes to this reality”.
Advani regretted that the present political situation in the country was not conducive for a healthy discussion on any important issue, as political adversaries instead of projecting their stands resorted to pointing accusing fingers at each other.
Earlier, speaking at the three day BJP conference of legislators, Advani and prominent leader and former foreign minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee flayed the Uttar Pradesh government for “stroking the flames of communalism” on the Ayodhya issue.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 21, 1990
