PRESS STATEMENT BY BJP NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON
SHRI RAVI SHANKER PRASAD

The criticism of the BJP at today's AICC session is yet another attempt by the Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi to divert the attention of the public from their government's and party's pathetic litany of failures. This will neither diminish the truth about the dismal performance of the Congress led UPA alliance at the centre nor distract the common man from reality.

Rather than comment on the BJP, the Congress and the UPA would do well to introspect on their own performance and character. The only glue that binds this government and the coalition of opportunism is the patent hatred of the UPA constituents towards the BJP whose impeccable nationalistic credentials are well known. Before speaking about terrorism, the Prime Minister and Congress President should inform the nation about the truth as to why Afzal Guru is yet to be hanged or why no appeal has been filed against Abdul Rashid Madani the prime accused in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts which killed 58 innocent citizens and injured over 200 others? Terrorists and their patrons are well aware that under the UPA strong initiatives to combat terrorism are tradable for votes.

The BJP is all for women's reservation but the vacillation of the Congress is well known. The BJP is the first national party that has already begun the process of reserving one-third posts within the party organization for women. Before speaking about women's reservation, will the Prime Minister and Congress President come on record and let the nation know whether the mass rape of innocent women and the state organised mayhem perpetrated by their allies the CPM and left party cadre in Nandigram bear their stamp of approval?

Beyond the semantics and pseudo minority tokenism, what is shocking is the deafening silence of the Prime Minister and Congress President over the atrocities committed against muslims in Nandigram by their allies the CPM and left parties. Does their continued silence indicate that their conscience has been effectively over-shadowed by the compulsions of power and the urge to hold onto it at any cost?

The BJP completely dismisses the comments made against it by both the Prime Minister and Smt Sonia Gandhi. The BJP does not require any certification about its performance or credentials from the Prime Minister, Congress Party or it's president. The BJP has successfully led the NDA coalition government at the centre for six years under the able leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Today the party is in power by itself or in coalition in ten states of the country on the basis of popular support. The BJP is also the principal opposition party in Parliament. The principal leader of the UPA alliance calling the BJP obstructionist clearly reflects the undemocratic mindset of Smt Sonia Gandhi.

(Shyam Jaju)
Office Incharge