The Naxal Threat
Besides, Naxal threat also continues to pose a very severe challenge before all of us. At umpteenth number of occasions BJP has said it in so many words that it will support any move by this government to effectively overcome the Naxal menace. And yet, the government appears confused and unfocussed. The internal security establishment seems to have failed in envisaging the gravity of this menace. While actions for economic and social development in all the underdeveloped areas mainly inhabited by the tribal communities are always wanted, they alone are not a guarantee for overcoming the Naxal threat. While Naxals are and have been openly challenging the authority of the governments, some of those in UPA are making statements that are sympathetic to the Naxals. This dilemma in the approach is sending wrong signals. While on the one hand, these moves are causing a demoralizing impact on the police and para-military forces; on the other they are emboldening the Naxals. Let me warn the UPA that through these deliberate attempts of showing sympathy to both the Naxals and victims of their violence, you are playing with fire. This approach also betrays the lack of seriousness on the part of the government.
We are particularly perturbed by the merciless killings of innocents in Dantewada as also in the attack on Gyaneshwari Express in Midanapore district. Unfortunately, most of the national and international champions of Human Rights remain silent when Naxals deny the very fundamental right to life to hundreds of innocent people. Bharatiya Janata Party appeals the human rights activists not to be selective while condemning Human rights violations. In order to educate people about the indulgence of the Naxals in mindless cruelty and rampant injustice, I appeal to our state units to organize jan sunvai type programmes where victims of Naxal barbarism should be sharing their agony with the people. Naxals enjoy some support in the intelligentsia and sections of the society mainly because they are largely ignorant about these aspects of Naxal activism. It is our duty to enlighten the masses about the same.
Congress betrays the Scheduled Castes
The recent events of social strife in Haryana are a matter of great concern. The incidents that happened in Mirchpur are highly condemnable. The victims are still living in Delhi in fear. The Congress government in Haryana has been insensitive and has failed to reassure the affected families to return to their homes.
CBI - Congress Bureau of Intimidation
While the nation is facing innumerable threats to its internal security, government is forcing the CBI to work for its political designs. The CBI has become a tool of intimidation. The latest revelation by an officer in the context of the Bhopal tragedy has reinforced our fear that the Congress is continuing this strategy to cow down opponents or to let free from our law their acquaintances– Quatrrochhi, Anderson. This proves that their commitment is not for the people of India. We in the BJP strongly demand a JPC probe into the misuse of the CBI.
Neglect of the Farm Sectors
There is a long history of neglect of agriculture under the Congress regime. As regards agriculture, water and rural development has never gone beyond slogan mongering. While farmers are denied appropriate prices for their produce consumers are made to pay through their nose. In the recent past in the Congress ruled states as well as in Uttar Pradesh, procurement of wheat didn’t happen on time, thus resulting in distress selling any new crop comes to the g by the farmers. This further was aggravated by the lack of adequate storage facility in the rural areas and in the market yards. There was a lack of a significant market intervention strategy too. In this context, I appeal to our party workers to make it a point to visit public procurement centres whenever any new crop comes into the market. We have to ensure that farmers get their due without corrupt practices harassing them.
The Prime Minister has frequently referred to green revolution. But neither has he shown the will to move forward on this agenda nor has he revealed any blue print. The Minister for Agriculture has admitted that grains worth Rs 58000 crores goes rotten every year. Let me share here some of my ideas on agricultural development. Water is the key to farm development. BJP demands that irrigation should be placed in the concurrent list so as to effectively manage flood and drought. It is a pity that in India, farmers do not get quality seeds easily. Only a few days back farmers in Jodhpur had to brave lathi charge only because they were demanding quality seeds. The government has to take issues such as agri-finance very seriously. Let me assure you that in the BJP ruled states we have a comprehensive agricultural development strategy in place which is already showing tangible results in Gujarat, Bihar and Chhattisgarh and other BJP ruled states.
Situation in Manipur
Like you all, I am extremely perturbed about the situation in Manipur. For the last over 70 days Manipur is facing road blockade and life has become a misery for our brethren in Manipur. The blockade that started on April 11 was initially organised by Naga student bodies and some Naga nationalist civil society organisations in protest against the decision of the Manipur state government to hold elections to the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils (ADC). We believe that the Naga leader Thuingaleng Muivah has played a dangerous game first by announcing his desire to visit his home village in Manipur and later by joining the blockade. It is highly deplorable that Naga groups are allowed to hold the entire state of Manipur to ransom and the central government is just a spectator watching the hapless condition of the people of Manipur. While the genuine demands of Nagas certainly merit attention, politics of blockade has no place in a democratic polity.
We express our complete solidarity with the people of Manipur and ask the central government to show the same kind of sensitivity that it shows for the people of Kashmir valley. BJP demands that the central government should give a clear message that the nation sympathises with the people in Manipur through actions such as opening of alternate road accesses, air-dropping of food grains and essential commodities as well as a visit to Imphal by the Prime Minister to address the concerns of the people and in the process inculcate confidence in them. BJP warns the government that if it allows further worsening of the situation, secessionist leaders from both the states will exploit the popular anger, giving further fillip to greater unrest and violence. I also appeal to all our party workers especially in metro cities where Manipuri students are in good number to go and meet Manipuri youth and communicate to them that people from other parts of the country are with them. BJP will observe 23 June, the death anniversary of Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee as Manipur Solidarity Day and our workers in all capital cities will be fasting on that day while staging a day long dharna.
War on Price Rise
Friends, I am happy that we could mobilize masses on the issue of spiraling prices and successfully gave vent to the popular anguish when we marched to the parliament in Delhi in April last. Price rise is an issue about which people need to be educated extensively and I am happy we could do that in multiple ways. We have not only highlighted the fact that this price rise is the result of wrong economic policies and fiscal mismanagement but also established the utter insensitivity of the government that has allowed rottening of lacks of tonnes of wheat. We have also very successfully highlighted the miseries of the potato growers. But unfortunately, this government has become so very unmindful of the hardships of the people that it has again added to their miseries. The rise in the prices of petrol, diesel and gas which is in the offing is adding insult to injury. Remember whenever the Congress is in power the prices always reach the sky. BJP condemns this price hike and warns the UPA that flames of rising popular anger against price rise will burn the mandate of this government to ashes sooner than later.
At this juncture, let me remind you all that our national campaign against price rise has still not ended. Crores of signatures we have collected on our memorandum to the President of India shall be presented to the Mahamihim Rashtrapati during the forthcoming monsoon session of the Parliament.
Suraj Sankalp
Let me now dwell upon some of our new initiatives and the progress that we have made on those fronts. In Indore, we had talked about more impetus to Good Governance. We have now become the first and the only party that has a Governance Cell, dedicated to provide all assistance to our governments to better their performance. Former Chief Minister of Goa, Shri.Manohar Parrikar is the convener of this cell. I am happy that recently a Suraj sankalp Convention was held under the auspices of this cell in Mumbai. At this convention, we have once again committed ourselves to what is now being described as People-Oriented Pro-active Good Governance. All the BJP Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers besides over 60 ministers belonging to eight states along with some senior party functionaries in states as well as at the centre had participated in this two-day convention held at the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini. This was the first of its type convention and the Suraj Sankalp or the Declaration of Determination that we have adopted at this convention reflects our resolve to provide Governance with a difference. We have committed ourselves to pro-people pro-active good governance (p2g2). It is a matter of great pleasure that days before this convention, leading TV channel has nominated three BJP Chief Ministers as from amongst the best five CMs in the country. I congratulate all the BJP Governments for their success and wish them every success in implementing the Suraj Sankalp. Let me highlight a few milestones achieved in the various states: The national average agricultural growth is only 2%, while in BJP ruled states like Bihar and Gujarat, it is several times above the same. In Gujarat, it has been consistently 9.5% from 2002 to till date. Karnataka successfully organized the Global Investors Meet which has brought in investors focus to this state. In this era of environmental consciousness our government in Himachal has made great strides and earned carbon points which certify their effective management. Chhattisgarh’s impressive use of technology in making their Public Distribution System transparent to perform on time and efficiently.
We believe that Good governance is not confined only to public administration. It is relevant in managing our Party affairs as well. For that we have to galvanize our own Human Resources Development mechanism. In this regard our training cell has already started functioning in right earnestness. A report about whatever has already been done by the cell and also its future plans will be presented in this meeting. This Cell is all set to launch in July 2010, a three-year structured training programme for the party cadres. We have an ambitious plan to train 10,000 party workers in the current year. This Cell also launches its e-Training from Vijayadashami 2010. Similarly, we have also made a modest beginning on the front of Antyodaya, our unique initiative for reinstating social service as a part of political work. Besides, our platform for non-member well wishers of the Party known as Friends-of-BJP has also started functioning. Reports on Antyodaya will be presented in this session. Besides, we had also held a meeting of all our State Finance Ministers to discuss matters pertaining to GST. Also, a special committee on Tribal issues that was formed after a meeting of all Tribal affairs Ministers from BJP ruled states is now giving final shape to its report. A committee under the leadership of Bhagat ji Singh Koshiyari has already gone into the issues regarding our border security in the northern region and that will be presented here before you.
Friends, during the last six months after I was given this responsibility, I have travelled across the country from Chennai to Chandigarh and Guwahati to Goa. I have met not only our party workers but also interacted with several opinion makers and prominent citizens wherever I went. There is a groundswell of good wishes for the BJP. We have supporters in every section and strata of the society. Crores of countrymen have great hopes from all of us. They want BJP to keep its distinct identity intact. To be cynic is easy. Those who give up their efforts to be different or making a great difference lack in the courage of conviction. We are all optimists but our optimism is not and cannot be just a pious hope. We have to plan our path to make BJP accomplish its historic mission. Some thirty five years before, Delhi had heard the slogan Singhasan khali Karo ki janata aye hai..! Although this slogan was raised in Delhi, it had its origins in Patna, in the movement led by JP. Thirty five years after, if we look around; we have a different kind of emergency which the product of misgovernance at the centre. Once gain we have to raise our voice and ask the UPA government to perform or perish. Let us prepare ourselves to this long drawn struggle.
Bihar has shown to the world where there is political will it is possible to make a good turn around – During this NDA rule, Bihar’s all round performance has been historic, unprecedented, and spectacular. This performance is emulate worthy. For a sukhi and samruddhi Bharat, we need suraj and sushashan. In states where we are in power we have proved that we are working towards these goals. We should go to the people to show how Congress spells vinash while BJP brings vikas.
Bharat Mata ki Jai.
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