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Narrow appeal of Hindutva not acceptable: Advani
On board special aircraft, July 13: A day after BJP agreed to consider VHP demand for a legislation on Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today asserted that `a narrow appeal of Hindutva` was not acceptable to the party and its anti-Muslim image hurt its ability to rule the country.
On board special aircraft, July 13: A day after BJP agreed to consider VHP demand for a legislation on Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today asserted that "a narrow appeal of Hindutva" was not acceptable to the party and its anti-Muslim image hurt its ability to rule the country.
Declining to comment on the commitment given by party president venkaiah naidu to rss leaders on ayodhya issue, advani expressed hope that the sangh parivar outfit would appreciate BJP's commitment to ideology along with pragmatism demanded by changing circumstances.
"We have not abandoned our agenda. The commitment to basic values of ideology has to go along with pragmatic response to the changing scenario. We hope that our associates are more committed to ideology ... Would appreciate this with the passage of time," Advani said in an informal chat with reporters en route to Nagpur to attend some functions.
While acknowledging that BJP arrived at present point by virtue of the Ayodhya movement, he asked "why VHP is criticising us. Any narrow appeal of Hindutva is not acceptable to us".
Asserting that BJP believes that genuine secularism was not vote bank politics or the state being allergic to Hinduism, Advani said, "Nobody should look at us as their enemies. Our image as anti-Muslim hurts our ability and capability to rule this country."
Asked about VHP's earlier demand that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should resign over his alleged failure to bring a legislation on Ayodhya, Advani said, "They are not able to comprehend that a large area of governance had nothing to do with ideology."
"People are concerned about roads, poverty and agriculture," he said adding, "If today China has become a force to contend with, one reason is its ability and ingenuity to blend its commitment to ideology with pragmatism demanded by changing circumstances."
The Deputy Prime Minister said the BJP decided to take up Ayodhya issue in 1989 at its Palampur session "in the wake of the Shah Bano case and the Congress decision to allow shilanyaas with a view to play vote-bank politics."
"We then decided there was no point in keeping away from it (Ayodhya issue)," Advani said.
Advani said the Ayodhya issue has been revived as the muslims too were keen to find a solution to it and have been in touch with him.
Advani said BJP would contest the next Lok Sabha polls "mainly on the performance of five years of the NDA government."
Bureau Report
"We have not abandoned our agenda. The commitment to basic values of ideology has to go along with pragmatic response to the changing scenario. We hope that our associates are more committed to ideology ... Would appreciate this with the passage of time," Advani said in an informal chat with reporters en route to Nagpur to attend some functions.
While acknowledging that BJP arrived at present point by virtue of the Ayodhya movement, he asked "why VHP is criticising us. Any narrow appeal of Hindutva is not acceptable to us".
Asserting that BJP believes that genuine secularism was not vote bank politics or the state being allergic to Hinduism, Advani said, "Nobody should look at us as their enemies. Our image as anti-Muslim hurts our ability and capability to rule this country."
Asked about VHP's earlier demand that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should resign over his alleged failure to bring a legislation on Ayodhya, Advani said, "They are not able to comprehend that a large area of governance had nothing to do with ideology."
"People are concerned about roads, poverty and agriculture," he said adding, "If today China has become a force to contend with, one reason is its ability and ingenuity to blend its commitment to ideology with pragmatism demanded by changing circumstances."
The Deputy Prime Minister said the BJP decided to take up Ayodhya issue in 1989 at its Palampur session "in the wake of the Shah Bano case and the Congress decision to allow shilanyaas with a view to play vote-bank politics."
"We then decided there was no point in keeping away from it (Ayodhya issue)," Advani said.
Advani said the Ayodhya issue has been revived as the muslims too were keen to find a solution to it and have been in touch with him.
Advani said BJP would contest the next Lok Sabha polls "mainly on the performance of five years of the NDA government."
Bureau Report