LUCKNOW(PTI): Recovering from the initial shook of Ayodhya happenings, the BJP has launched a political offensive in Uttar Pradesh in a bid to consolidate its Position in the state even as other Parties dismiss its man oeuvres as mere pipedreams. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Kalyan Singh, who was dismissed after the December 6 demolition, is spearheading the BJP campaign in publicizing the party’s policies at many well attended public meetings in and around capital Lucknow.

Other top leaders of the state’s first ever BJP government also appear to have shaken off the Situation and embarked on offensive mass contact programs.

On a statewide tour, Kalyan Singh took eight hours to cover a distance of little over 140 km from Lucknow to Ayodhya addressing over dozen well attended wayside meetings telling the people how we had given orders to protect the disputed structure but “no firing at any cost.” Keeping the Ayodhya issue in focus, the BJP has accused the Ruling Congress(I) of being “more communal” citing its alliance with the Muslim league in Kerala and “catching of vote in Mizoram in the name of Christianity.”

A senior Congress (I) leader and former minister Jagdambika Pal, accused the BJP of mixing religion with politics only to fool the masses. But he said the people in the state or the country “will never forget and forgive the BJP.”

The BJP actions had resulted in the alienation of the minorities who were feeling insecure and would never support party which cannot guarantee their safety, Pal said. “In short, the people are fed up with the gimmicks of the BJP,” the former Congress(I) minister said.

Samajwadi party chief and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, too says that BJP’s dream to capture power in the state or at the Center was never going to materialize.

The BJP should not feel elated as the demolition of the mosque had Stirred the sentiments of the people in the country Yadav said.

Alleging it was a conspiracy of the BJP and Congress(I) to create instability in the country, he said no one has benefitted from the demolition of the Babri mosque and it has only spread hatred. Yadav also predicts a bleak future for the Congress(I) saying that it has lost the confidence of the people.

The Janata Dal leadership in Unar Pradesh too as series that the BJP’s aim of capturing power either at the Center or in the state will burst like a bubble.

“We are the People’s Party,” the party is confident that it will secure the mandate of the entire Dalitand Backward Class.

Vice president of the party’s state unit D.P.Bora said the BJP will never succeed even alert provoking the religious sentiments of the people.

One should not be swayed by the size of a public meeting one should weigh what is being said in a public meeting Bora said.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 19, 1993