'There Is Always One Who Provokes'

(It should be noted that while the BJP website at www.bjp.org gives thefull texts of speeches by Mr. Krishnamurty and Mr. Advani, from where this is taken, at its National Executive Meet, the text of Mr.Vajpayee's controversial speech is not to be found there -- Ed.)

Dear Friends, We last met in Delhi four months ago in December last. Since thenthere has been a few developments which have to be taken note of by this Executive Meeting now being held inGoa. As we all know Goa is to go to polls very soon and it is but appropriate that we hold our NationalExecutive Meeting in this beautiful city of Panjim at the invitation of our Goa Pradesh Unit.

We had held our National Executive earlier also in the city.Earlier to that also we had met here. Hence our Goa workers have sufficient experience in making all necessaryarrangements for this meeting of ours and I would like to thank the entire Goa workers for hosting thismeeting.

Goa is to go to polls soon. The ministry headed by Shri Parlikarendeared itself by its work to the people of Goa but then situation got built up to necessitate a fresh poll.Let us all hope the people of Goa will choose a BJP Government for the full term of five years.

When we met last, we had hopefully looked forward for electoralsuccess in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and also in Punjab where we had our ally in Akali Dal. Our hopes havebeen belied. The verdict of people in all these states was negative as for as we were concerned. In UttarPradesh we were to be content with the third position while we were reasonably sure that we would retain ournumber one position. As a true democratic party we respect the verdict of the electorate and therefore wedecided to sit in the opposition.

In Uttaranchal, which was part of Uttar Pradesh till a year and oddago, we were the ruling party on the basis of strength we had acquired during 1996 elections. During electioncampaign the public opinion also was favourable for a BJP Ministry being formed there. But the results provedotherwise. In Punjab we got the worst beating. There was anti-incumbency factor but it affected BJP more thenAkali Dal which was the major partner.

Delhi Corporation results has capped our electoral disappointment.We have been worsted in the corporation polls. It cannot be denied that public opinion was not exactly in ourfavour. We had to pay the penalty for some of the factors which were within our control and the rest whichwere not within our control.

In a democracy and that too for a mature party like BJP pollreverses should make us go in for the factors which are responsible for our electoral reverses rather than ruingover the loss. Yes, as our Prime Minister succinctly put it, we are to go in for introspection.

This is not the first time we have had to face electoral defeat.The greatest set back for us was in 1984 when in Lok Sabha election we managed to secure only two seats onefrom Andhra and another from Gujarat. Our tallest leader also had to face electoral defeat. At that timeeveryone especially our political opponents and critics predicted the demise of the party itself but historyis witness as to how we retrieved the party from its peripheralisation and today we are the biggest politicalforce.

It is this determination, this acceptance of challenge to our verystrength and existence which have been the hallmarks of our party's strength and character that will meet thesituation now also.

We will have to await the detailed report from the states concernedto know what exactly went wrong and where exactly we erred in our assessment and campaign. It is only afterthat we can take corrective steps if need be. But then the time now requires the combined and cooperativeeffort of all of us in party organisation to prove to the world that whatever electoral set back we havesuffered in the recently held election is a temporary phenomenon which will get rectified in the following fewmonths. The route of escapism, escaping from responsibility and accountability can never be the choice ofstrong willed and determined karyakartas of a political party and much more so in our party. So let us not tryto run away from our responsibilities, let us not shy away from the harsh realities of our political life andlet us also not wish away our reverses. Time has come to reassess the situation, reassert our stand on variousissues and reevaluate our strength and weaknesses.

There is an impression that some of our budget proposals have alsocontributed to our setback. Even our Prime Minister has made mention of it. This is a matter that needs to begone into carefully and if this impression proves to be correct then the matter needs to be examined as to howto neutralise the adverse impact or to go in for immunisation
Friends,

The last three years have not been exactly favourable for Gujarat.The year 2000 saw that State reeling under severe drought. Even while it was recovering from the ill effectsof it, a severe earthquake took place in early 2001. Thanks to the strenuous efforts of the State Governmentthe State was speeding up the reconstruction work when this year communal riots of severe nature, have grippedGujarat. No state much more so Gujarat deserves to such successive natural calamities and manmade calamity.The resilience and determination of Gujarat people are well known and even as they bravely faced thecalamities they had to endure in the year 2000 and 2001 they are sure to come out of the testing times of 2002also. In all these three years the State Government very firmly dealt with the situation it faced and it goesto the credit of the people and Government of Gujarat for having left behind their experiences of 2000 and2001 as bad dream and for having travelled along the path of relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

I amequally sure that the Gujarat Government now also will over come the present difficult situation and putGujarat on the road of recovery and progress. I must mention here that the role of opposition and our criticswas not exactly commendable but on the other hand condemnable. Every time Gujarat faced severe situations asabove mentioned, our opponents and critics mounted a severe attack on State Government and with orchestratedvoice demanded the head of the Chief Minister. When the people are facing a calamity and when the Governmentwas struggling to calm down the situation the role of opposition and our opponents was to have been tostrengthen the efforts of all those who are strenuously exerting themselves to contain the situation but onthe other hand their efforts were directed towards demoralising and discrediting those who were carrying outtheir responsibilities sincerely. I strongly condemn the hue and cry of those who demanded the head of ChiefMinister of Gujarat. The nation needs to be saved from these forces whose only aim seems to be to distabilisethe BJP Government even when the situation demanded the cooperation of every one to restore normalcy in a riottorn state.

The country will have to find a solution to the communal strife ifit were to progress. Social disharmony and internal strife cannot help our nation to move forward. Allsections of people need to ponder over this seriously. Every section of society when it thinks that it iswhole of the part must realise that it is simply part of the whole so much so its welfare and well beingdepends upon those of the entire society. In any communal strife there is always one who provokes and anotherprovoked. The effort has so far mainly remained in advising and attacking the provoked. This has given rise toa psychology amidst the provoked that it is the victim in every sense. If the message can go to everyone inthe society that whosoever provokes another, and whoever takes initiative in provoking or attacking anotherwhatever religion he may belong to as goondaism does not have religion, the state as well as society will comedown on him heavily to punish him, then the whole society and everyone in society will remain assured thatthere is justice rendered to all with no appeasement of anyone. I feel this is the only solution to this vexedproblem and I appeal to everyone especially the political parties, social and other organisations, media etc.to ponder over this and cooperate.

I am sorry to point out that the attitude of the main opposition isnot at all healthy and not at all conducive to the healthy growth of democracy. Whether Congress likes it ornot, the Indian electorate has given its verdict in favour of an NDA Government at the Centre and madeCongress to sit in the opposition. This verdict of the electorate must be respected and Congress must learn torespect it. As an opposition it has its right to criticise and attack the government. We do not deny thatright. But they are crossing all limits. Take the case of POTO. It came up for discussion in Parliament. Theycan oppose any provision they object to. The Party which brought TADA, the Party which misused TADA, the Partyruled States whose Chief Ministers, Director Generals of Police and Chief Secretaries have by and large agreedand wanted such a type of law as POTO to deal with terrorism whose ugly face is seen in many parts of ourcountry, opposed the very need of such a law. They opposed to the very last in Rajya Sabha necessitating thesummoning of a Joint Session of both the Houses of Parliament.

In the last few years BJP has been moving in the direction ofpolitics of consensus from that of confrontation. We are succeeding in our efforts. We could evolve consensuswith more then twenty different parties on the basis of a Common Agenda and thereby provided good governancewith a stable government. Our desire is to go in for consensus even with the main opposition party atleast onvital issues such as eradication of poverty, minimising unemployment, growth oriented economic approach, fightagainst terrorism building up social harmony upholding the unity and integrity of the country etc. In the nameof the best national interests I urge the Congress to see reason and cooperate where it can and should. But ifthe Congress chooses to stick to the path of confrontation the BJP inspite of having chosen the path ofconsensus is prepared to accept the challenge of Congress in its politics of confrontation.
Friends,

Economic Reform measures are crucial if one is seriously committedto bring the economy out of mess. In a fiscal situation where the country has to borrow even to meet part ofthe debt servicing, let alone being able to meet developmental and current expenditure, tightening up of beltis a must. Moreover, it is quite essential to generate resources to meet social sector developments likeprimary education, healthcare and drinking water. The party is deeply committed to social sector developmentsince we can not afford to keep a section of the society out of developmental benefits for long. Correctionsof fiscal imbalances and need to meet social and physical infrastructure developments necessitates some amountof sacrifice by the comparatively better off sections.

But the crucial question in this context is how much the partywould be able to convince the section of society which is affected by the economic reform measures-speciallythe second generation. Phase and sequencing of economic reforms should also keep in mind our capacity tomanage politically. Time has come for an indepth analysis of the issue so that a healthy balance could bestruck between economic rationality behind economic reforms and capacity of the party for politicalmanagement.

In a country like India where we don't have adequate social safetynet, often retired persons have to depend on their hard earned savings during their old age. Whatever may bethe economic justification behind cut in interest rates, many retired persons have, suddenly, been made tolook around for support due to fall in income through interests on savings. It is purely a humanitarian issue.Where should they go for their livelihood ?

Therefore I appeal to the government to introduce adequate socialsafety net measures before initiating steps towards the lower interests rate regime, which no doubt, isnecessary for economic development.

It is crucial to have cooperation of people for implementation ofeconomic reforms. While they have to tighten their belt, whether it is surcharge on income tax, cut ininterests rates on small savings or hike in prices of petroleum products, people expect that their sacrificewould go for noble national cause. In this context, austerity measures by the government would go a long wayin winning goodwill of common people.

Bulging food stock of around 60 million tonnes, which is expectedto cross 75 millions tonnes during the next procurement, is turning into a big headache. No doubt, thegovernment has initiated many steps to deplete the old stock-such as increased allotment under food for workprogramme, lowering of issue prices etc. Though allocation for BPL families has been raised to 35 kgs a monththis alone may not enable the BPL families-which by and large are daily wage earners to have access to PDS.Instead of distribution on fortnightly basis (or weekly basis as in Kerala) there should be flexibility ondistribution so as to enable poor wage earners to purchase on daily basis. Probably, issue of food coupons maybe a better proposition in this context.

I desire to repeat a suggestion which I had made earlier. Ourcountry has gone in for liberalisation for the past one decade and more. We are now moving into secondgeneration reforms. It is as it should be. But then the country has reached a stage, especially when it hasmoved into second generation reforms and it is absolutely necessary to make a thorough assessment of theimpact of the first generation reforms, whether its has achieved it purpose, whether its impact hasaccelerated the growth and development of economy, whether any correctives in approach, in direction and inimplementation needed are all to be studied so as to keep the course of economy in the right direction. I feelthe country and its economy needs such an assessment. My suggestion therefore is to appoint a committee ofcompetent persons to study this and submit its report without delay say within three to six months. This willenable the Government to assure itself that it is pursuing the reform process rightly and earnestly.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Government one more matter.The textile industry sector - Mill, Powerloom and Handloom together - is second only to agriculture inproviding jobs to lakhs of families. Today this sector is afflicted with problems. Every one of these sectionsof Textile Industry cries for our attention. May be some of their problems are creations of their own, somemay be due to high competition from other countries and perhaps a few owing to governmental policies and lackof due attention or coordination. The sum total of the present situation is the industry is in doldrums andneeds special attention as otherwise lakhs of families dependent on this are likely to be thrown into thestreets. The Central Government has adopted and announced New Textile Policy. It is intended to help theindustry and help in its restoration. I suggest to the Government to take coordinated efforts by healthyinteraction between ministries concerned like Textile Ministry, Finance Ministry, and Small Scale IndustryMinistry etc. so that the entire industry gets restored to its health and once again stands on its own feet.This is most essential as it is facing very stiff competition from foreign goods.

Friends, the gruesome burning of innocent women and children in a train atGodhra, the suicide bomber attack on devotees at the Raghunath Temple in Jammu and several other recentincidents of mayhem perpetrated by the ISI sponsored terrorists are a clear message that there will be no letup in cross border terrorism. General Musharaff's unwillingness or inability to control the jehadi elements isquite evident. That his Jan 12 speech was merely a ploy to hoodwink the international community is now quitewell established. He has refused to hand over Daniel Pearl's abductor to the U.S. and has flatly rejected U.S.advice to comply with the Indian demand for the twenty most wanted terrorists who have been given refuge inPakistan. A large number of extremist elements arrested in Pakistan in January have been released. The jehadigroups continue to operate as before. Musharaff's duplicity is now quite apparent. Even some Americanpolitical commentators have acknowledged this fact even though the U.S. Government continues to repose faithin Musharaff's good intentions.

While it is obvious that Pakistan has no desire to live in peaceand amity with India and that we have to learn to live with a hostile Pakistan for quite sometime, there is nodearth of over-optimistic, and perhaps misguided, elements who keep calling upon the Government of India toenter into a dialogue with Pakistan. As a former Prime Minister said recently, you cannot have a dialogue witha gun pointed at your head. We have no alternative but to deal firmly with cross border terrorism. We believethat our armed forces will have to remain constantly vigilant and the ISI network in the country must beexposed and thoroughly smashed.