BJP to focus more on ‘Bharat’ than ‘India’: Advani

In his first ever interview to a television channel prior to General Elections 2009, NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani, talks at length about various issues in an exclusive chat with Zee News.While speaking on a wide range of subjects, he gave emphasis on three major planks – governance, development and security. Perhaps learning from the India Shining fiasco of 2004, he emphasised that this time they would concentrate more on the development of ‘Bharat’ rather than on ‘India’. “I will make a promise that the direction of economic development, which is more towards ‘India,’ will be now focussed towards ‘Bharat’. The focus would be on rural areas, village and small scale industries. Moreover, economic policy would give thrust to creating more employment,” he said. On 2004 Election For the first time, Advani admitted, that overconfidence and distancing from ideological affiliates cost the NDA dear in the last general elections. He conceded that leadership remained unable to convince its ideological sympathizers about the Vajpayee government being the NDA government rather than just the BJP government. “One reason was over-confidence; another reason was that we failed to convince our ideological supporters that the 1998 government was not of BJP, but of NDA. Since the NDA government was an alliance government, it could do only those things on which everyone agreed upon. The issues on which unanimity was lacking, we were unable to do tackle. Surprisingly, on these issues, our ideological supporters had developed a misconception that we failed to meet their expectations.” On Varun Gandhi issue Speaking his mind out on the Varun Gandhi issue, Advani said those who are targeting Varun may have to pay the price. On the slapping of National Security Act (NSA) against Varun Gandhi, he said this was an act of perverse mentality and that the people of India will not easily forgive it. On the Congress party accusing him of being the scriptwriter of Varun episode, the veteran leader termed it as an act of desperation and surrender. “I vehemently deny it (scripting Varun episode), and would like to recall the Emergency days when great patriots like Jai Prakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Behari Vajpayee were arrested under MISA, on the plea that they were a threat to national security. I feel the use of NSA, when elections are taking place, is a perverse action. We should not forget that after Emergency, those targeted by the then government won the elections because people didn’t like any candidate being put behind bars during elections.” On temple at Ayodhya Advani said nothing can do more good to Hindu-Muslim unity if both communities come to a mutual understanding on the construction of the temple at Ayodhya. “I would wish that the Ram temple is constructed at Ayodhya. I myself have said that if people from both the communities and all political leaders come together for a solution, it would be a permanent one. Not only this, this would also fulfil the wish of crores of people. To build a harmonious relation between Hindus and Muslims, this would be the best way.” On PM’s charge against him Once again challenging the Congress leadership for an open debate, Advani said he was shocked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement calling him a leader of communal forces and describing the Babri Mosque demolition as his only contribution. “I was shocked to hear this from Manmohan Singh. I don’t mind any body saying that, but when I came to know that Manmohan Singh stated that I have done nothing for the nation except contributing in the demolition of Babri Mosque...whenever I have criticized him, I have simply said that I regard him as a weak PM because he has denigrated and devalued the high office of Prime Minister. I have never gone beyond that.” On coalition ethics Advani also questioned Congress party’s commitment to the ethics of coalition politics. He said the Congress never reconciled to the concept of coalition, while the NDA has always been faithful to its partners. He also took credit for making Indian politics bipolar through the successful NDA experiment. “The Congress party never believed in coalition politics. When we formed NDA, the Congress in its training camp held in Madhya Pradesh, had termed the imagination of NDA as negative and had said that they wanted only their own government. Still they think the same. They are running a coalition government at the Centre but are yet to accept it fully.” On Congress - BJP tie-up When asked if BJP-Cong could ever come together for a stable government in case of a fractured mandate, Advani said that as of now he saw no chance of it, but emphasised that no political party was untouchable. “I’m yet to see that kind of a situation, but in England sworn enemies like Churchill and Attlee had come together during war and were part of the same government. I do not consider any political party as untouchable. Even during the United government in Bihar, the Communists and Janasangh came together, so its not a big thing. Today, I don’t see such a possibility; and secondly, if democracy has to be successful then government and opposition have to play a positive role”, the BJP’s PM candidate said. On his image Referring to his remarks on Jinnah, Advani emphasized that he is not bothered about his image, as he does or speak only that which convinces him, “I do not care for the image. Had I cared about it, I would never have said what I did in Pakistan because whatever I firmly believe in, I do not hesitate in speaking about it as well. I have tried it in my life, whether people liked it or not, and I feel satisfied. After sparing over sixty years in politics, today I can say that I’m very much satisfied with my life.” On Dhoni At the end of his interview, drawing a parallel with Dhoni’s leadership, he said that he is a great admirer of the captain of Indian cricket team, both as a sportsperson and as a leader. “I’m a fan of his game as well as his leadership. In such a short span of time, nobody has achieved so much in cricket barring him.”