Targeting the Congress ahead of assembly elections, BJP said the main opposition had drastically lowered its ambitions and was content being the “tailender” in political alliances in states like Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Briefing the media on the political resolution adopted by the BJP national executive, Arun Jaitley also explained the party’s emphasis on nationalism and said while there should be a right of dissent, this did not mean the destruction of the nation. The resolution, which was replete with PM Narendra Modi’s domestic and foreign policy initiatives, said BJP was the “natural choice” of all patriotic citizens.
“Talking of destruction of Bharat can’t be supported in the name of freedom of expression. Similarly, refusal to hail Bharat — say Bharat Mata ki Jai — in the name of freedom is also unacceptable… refusal to chant victory to Bharat tantamounts to disrespect of our Constitution. It is the heartbeat of a billion people today,” the resolution said.
The assertive appropriation of the nationalist plank comes in the midst of heated rows over JNU and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan. Though BJP did not let up its attack on Congress saying the “cynical and irrational” opposition to GST bill had done enormous damage to national interest, Jaitley said he was hopeful about passage of the bill as differences had narrowed down considerably.
Jaitley made an interesting differentiation in the JNU controversy when in response to a question he said it would be unfair to see it as “red-green” (Left-Islamist) issue. “It will be unfair to call it red-green as green was very less. Though a few came on day one, the entire debate was ultra-Left in the forefront. It will be unfair to say green was there as minority leaders didn’t take part and not even in the debate,” he said.
The reference to the February 9 meeting in JNU which allegedly eulogised Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and saw anti-India slogans being raised came as the BJP is sharply targeting the Congress-Left alliance over the issue of nationalism, saying the parties put freedom of speech and sedition at par while accusing BJP of stifling dissent.
“The ideology of nationalism guides our beliefs and philosophy,” Jaitley said, reflecting the mood of the executive and BJP’s bid to pin Congress over JNU-related developments. In a similar fashion, he said the slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ was above debate and referred to the chants after India’s win over Pakistan in the World T20 match. Jaitley said the party believed it was an issue over which there should be no debate.
The minister said there should be a right of dissent and the Constitution allowed both free speech and nationalism. “But this does not mean destruction of the nation,” he said.
BJP said the assembly polls would be contested on its “sabka saath sabka vikas” agenda. The party is hopeful in Assam where its has formed a strong alliance and expects to do well in other states as well.
The party said the terrorist attack on the IAF base in Pathankot had been repelled with bravery and commitment and important national security issues like the Naga accord had been sorted out. The land transfer in the border agreement with Bangladesh and the resolution of OROP demand were other achievements. On J&K where there is a deadlock on government formation, BJP said it was committed to the agreed agenda for governance.
The Congress arguments on the Ishrat Jahan case found a mention, while the Modi government’s initiatives on the poverty alleviation front were also referred to along with social justice and efforts to promote Dalit entrepreneurship.
“There was a time when the country was being governed without any sense of direction. There was uncertainty and lack of purpose. Now, we have a government with a determined leadership, nationalist policies and progressive governance,” Jaitley said.