Bharatiya Janata Party
National Executive
25th & 26th June 2007
Parliament Annexe, New Delhi

Atalji’s Margdarshan

Friends, it is the concluding session of the National executive meeting today. This meeting is being held at a very critical juncture. Today on the one hand, it is the 32nd anniversary of the declaration of Emergency, on the other, the Presidential elections would be held in the coming days. These are two different issues, yet they have common roots in history. Emergency was imposed in 1975 but its seeds were sown way back in 1967-69, especially in the 1969 election for the fifth President. The then Prime Minister had fielded a candidate against the Congress nominee and got him defeated. It was an act of desperation by an insecure Prime Minister, which resulted into division of Congress and in the end led to imposition of Emergency on the country. What could a leadership insecure and apprehensive about its future do, is not easy to say.

The suffering from a feeling of insecurity of the then Congress leadership is understandable but today’s Congress is not faced with that situation. Then why are such signs visible? Is something wrong there?

It has been our considered view that the dignity of all constitutional posts and mutual trust and balance between them should be maintained so that nobody could turn into a dictator. When the balance got disturbed in 1975, it emerged in the shape of Emergency. If the then President late Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had tried to guide the Prime Minister and had not signed the ordinance with his eyes shut, democracy in this country would have been spared the curse of eclipse.

The President’s is the highest office in the country. It should not be turned into a wrestling ground for politics. It is much better if a consensus is worked out for nomination of candidate for this office.

During our time when a similar situation developed, we elected Dr. Kalam as President on the basis of consensus. But this time no effort was made by the Government to strike a consensus for Presidential election. The ruling party sought our support after it had selected its candidate. Consensus emerges before and not after taking a decision in the matter.

The present ruling dispensation at the Centre owes it to explain why did it not try to find a consensus on election to this office.

The criticism by Union Ministers of a statement made by the present President deserves condemnation. The ruling leadership should publicly condemn the uncivilized conduct of such ministers.

It is also quite surprising that a constituent (CPI) of ruling UPA has said that they had opposed the candidature of Shri Shivraj Patil for Presidentship as he had adpted a soft attitude towards BJP during his tenure as Lok Sabha Speaker. Does the ruling front want a Speaker who is loyal only to the ruling party? I don’t think any Speaker can conduct the business of the House without getting cooperation from the Opposition parties.

But this thinking to make constitutional offices committed towards the ruling party points to a trend dangerous for democracy.

Our opposition to the Congress candidate for the office of President is against this psyche. The NDA has decided to support a senior leader with great political acumen, like Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who has been active in politics for more than 55 years. The country needs a mature and impartial leadership, like him.

The Party President has mentioned the adverse effects of Indo-US nuclear deal in his presidential speech. It also finds a mention in the political resolution. We had throughout been opposed to the deal for its adverse effects.

The Government of India has recently constituted a Task Force to consider the issue of changes to be brought in India’s considered views on matters like nuclear proliferation and disarmament. I could not understand the desirability of constituting this Task Force. Through this Task Force are we trying to change our policies in conformity with the demand of the Untied States? The Government needs to elaborate its policy on this issue.

Friends, we have several other issues as well. We need to wage mass movements on those issues. Where we are in the Governments, we need to establish new records in public service and good governance. Struggle and good governance should become our identity. We need to fight on issues like inflation, farmers’ suicides and the like which concern the small everyday needs of the people. We need to remain active not only during elections but also during normal period. We are not a mere electoral machine. We maintain our identity as a party which is always alert and active.