***************************************************************************
News, Opinion, Analysis and Publications Digest
Today's Topics
-------------
Industry favors BJP: Survey
VHP agenda for elections
We are confident of securing majority: Vajpayee
Vajpayee calls for voluntary disclosure of political foes
Ajit Singh wants to join BJP
Vajpayee appeals to people's emotions to do justice to BJP
BJP spells out strategy for elections
***************************************************************************
Date: Jan. 10, 1998
Source: Indian Express
BJP emerges frontrunner, UF "okay", Congress a "no-no",
says industry
CHENNAI, January 9: If the Indian
business formed the electorate and if
the elections were held today, Atal
Behari Vajpayee would be prime minister
for the second time.
In a snap poll conducted by The
Financial Express moments after the
three major political alignments had
stated their economic agenda, captains
of the Indian industry gathered here at
the CII's partnership summit voted
overwhelmingly in favour of the BJP.
The FE poll had asked the cream of
corporate India which party they would
vote for if they voted today (Friday).
Of the 238 top industrialists, CEOs and
senior- and middle-level managers
reading like a Who's Who of India Inc
who responded, 61 per cent picked the
BJP, while twenty four per cent chose
the United Front.
The surprise was the Congress. The
party, which initiated the reform
process, appeared to have earned the
special wrath of those who are feeling
its pains. Only eight per cent of the
industry voted in its favour.
Undecided or probably disillusioned, as
much as seven per cent abstained.For
once, even the industry put politics
ahead of economics. The FE-poll seems
to indicate that the industry is more
concerned about stability -- probably
because it is convinced that all
parties would continue with the
reforms.
Though 34 per cent of those polled felt
that the UF's economic agenda was best
suited for the country, only 24 per
cent chose to vote for it. The
Congress, Sonia factor notwithstanding,
seems to have been held responsible for
the uncertainty and political chaos
plaguing the country. Corporate India
even forgot Manmohan Singh, and all the
good work done by him was blown away in
the political storm.
A meagre nine per cent picked Congress'
economic agenda as the best suited for
the country.
And the BJP has been the beneficiary.
While 45 per cent preferred the party's
economic agenda, as much as 61 per cent
voted for it! In throwing its weight
behind the BJP, the industry has
actually shown more hope than belief.
Though 61 per cent voted for the party,
only 47 per cent were convinced that it
would be able to form a stable
government. An extra-ordinarily high 26
per cent didn't know what to expect. As
many as 27 per cent had resigned
themselves to another spell of
instability.
But will the Indian electorate take the
cue from the industry? And will the
economic agenda influence the average
voter? 47 per cent of industrialists
said no, but a surprising 44 per cent
said yes. Perhaps these elections might
mark the entry of the rural voter into
the global village.
------------------------------
Date: Jan. 10, 1998
Source: Indian Express
VHP to fight for Kashi and Mathura but not with BJP
NAGPUR, January 9: The Vishwa Hindu
Parishad has decided to vigorously
implement a five-point Hindutva agenda,
which, among other things, lists
`liberation' of Mathura and Kashi
temples high on priority. And though
the VHP's working president Ashok
Singhal admitted that the Parishad
differs with the BJP on the issue of
the two temples, he hastened to add
that there won't be any conflict
between the two arms of the Sangh
Parivar in this regard.
Talking to media persons, Singhal, who
was here to attend the inaugural
ceremony of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh's Vidarbha-level Mahashibir, said
the Parishad's role is not restricted
merely to the issue of construction of
a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya.
The five-point agenda is aimed at
showing that Hindus will not take
things lying down. Since they
constitute a vast majority, it is but
natural that they should play a more
assertive role, he opined.
The VHP's agenda includes a nation-wide
campaign for banning slaughter of cow
and progeny and export of meat,
restoring autonomy of temples taken
over by State Governments, liberation
of Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and
Kashi Vishweshwar temple in Varanasi,
making `forcible conversions' a penal
offence and opposition to the
construction of Tehri dam, which, he
alleged, is aimed at impounding the
holy Ganga river.
For implementation of this agenda and
to mark an end of the `imposed
composite culture', the VHP plans to
recruit 10,000 Hindu Missionaries in
next three years and launch at least 1
lakh social service projects in the
country. In addition, special drives
would be conducted in association with
other arms of the Sangh Parivar.
Elaborating the points in his agenda,
Singhal said the Ayodhya issue received
more attention because of its political
fall-out. More than the VHP or BJP, the
heads of Hindu sects made Ayodhya
temple a national issue. VHP and BJP
only joined the movement to promote the
cause of Hindutva, he clarified.
The VHP will now take up the issue of
restoration autonomy to temples taken
over by state governments. The
offerings at these temples, taken
together, run into thousands of crore.
The amount is being misused by
bureaucrats and politicians running the
governments, he said and demanded that
the temple managements should be handed
over to priests.
The VHP, Singhal said, would also take
a hard stand on the issue of `forcible
conversions'. Alleging that huge funds
totalling over Rs 20,000 crore are
being routed through smugglers for
conversions, he said it is surprising
that government officers are aware of
the sources from where this money is
coming but have not been able to trace
the chain through which it is being
used for conversions.
------------------------------
Date: Jan. 11, 1998
Source: The Pioneer
Need for caution on economy: Vajpayee
Pioneer News Service/New Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate,
Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee has said he would accelerate the
pace of economic reforms by"giving it a human face".
At a meet-the-press programme, organised here on Saturday
by the Press Club of India, Mr Vajpayee criticised the
economic reforms pursued by theCongress and United Front
Governments. "These reforms were not carried out due to
lack of conviction," he said.
Referring to the BJP stance on economic issues, Mr Vajpayee
said the party had always opposed thel icence-quota raj.
"If the BJP comes to power, we intend to reform economic
reforms," he claimed.
On MNCs and FIIs, the BJP leader said his Government would
welcome foreign investment in the social sector. No power
project had been commissioned in the past 18 months after
his13-day Government cleared the Enron project, he said.
Justifying his party's position, Mr Vajpayee said everybody
was talking of the need for caution in opening up the
economy. There was a serious risk in aping the Asian
tigers' economic models, he warned.
Elaborating, he said the economy was in a shambles and
industrial growth rates had plunged. It was evident from
the fact that while the prices of luxury cars and mobile
phones had fallen, daily consumption items had become
costlier, he added.
Mr Vajpayee said the public sector units (PSUs)would be
revived and made "workable" if the BJP Government came to
power. The PSUs had been established "indiscriminately" in
a socialistic pattern, but "this policy has completely
reversed now", he said, adding that the BJP would protect
the workers as they were not responsible for the
mismanagement.
Addressing political issues, the former Prime Minister
asked the United Front (UF) and Congress to clarify whether
they were contesting the elections as "friends or foes".
Taking a dig at the Communist Party of India(Marxist) for
its stand that the Front might take the Congress support
for the polls, the BJP leader said: "We have declared our
friends. Let them declare their enemies."
Describing the 18-month UF Government at the Centre as
"hotch-potch", Mr Vajpayee expected the people to vote for
a "stable and able government",adding that the BJP and
allies were in a position to provide such a government.
Claiming that the Congress was collapsing and the UF
disintegrating, he said the situation had forced CPI(M)
general secretary Harkishan SinghSurjeet to solicit support
from the Congress.
Referring to the turnouts at his public meetings and
contradicting the perception that the next Parliament would
also be hung, Mr Vajpayee said stability did not mean
"stagnation or status quo".
Clarifying that the BJP-led coalition would not go the
Front way, he said: "We are confident of securing the
majority. The party members will be there (in Parliament)
in large numbers and friendly parties would be asked to
extend help.Then they (the opposition) will not be able to
bring down our Government."
The BJP was aligning with regional parties because it
wanted to broad base its strength, Mr Vajpayee said.
Allaying apprehensions that the party was"anti-minority",
the BJP leader said the nation"had been and will be" a
secular state.
"It has never been a theocracy. The king had never imposed
his religion on the subjects. There has been no state
religion, unlike in some of our neighbouring countries," he
said.
On Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's proposal to construct a
national monument at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Mr
Vajpayee said: "Though several suggestions have been made
on the issue, a new situation has arisen following the
reported statement by the Kaaba Imam that if a temple had
existed at the disputed site, then it should be handed over
to Hindus."
"There is a need for dialogue (between various parties). We
will encourage such a dialogue and hope that a peaceful
solution can be arrived at,"the former Prime Minister said.
In a lighter vein, Mr Vajpayee said he would prefer
Congress president Sitaram Kesri to Ms Sonia Gandhi for a
public debate during the ensuing elections. "I would prefer
to have a debate with Kesriji," the BJP leader said. When
asked why he preferred Mr Kesri, Mr Vajpayee replied: "For
obvious reasons."
------------------------------
Date: Jan. 11, 1998
Source: Economic Times
Vajpayee calls for voluntary disclosure of foes
IN A BID to expose the contradictions within the non-BJP
camp, the BJP's prime ministerial nominee, Mr Atal Behari
Vajpayee, today challenged his party's rivals to name their
adversaries in the coming elections.
Addressing the press, Mr Vajpayee said his party has
already ``declared its friends''. ``The electorate has a
right to know the adversaries of the parties opposing us,''
he added.
In an obvious reference to the CPI(M) general secretary, Mr
HS Surjeet's statement that the United Front was not averse
to working with the Congress (I) after the elections, Mr
Vajpayee said the parties should make their respective
positions clear. ``The voters have a right to know what
these parties propose to do,'' he said.
Mr Vajpayee, who skirted questions on contentious issues
such as Ayodhya and Article 370, said the main issue in the
coming polls will be stability. ``Stability does not mean
stagnation, not maintenance of status quo. People want
stability for rapid social and economic growth.''.
The BJP leader, rejecting suggestions that the next
Parliament, too, will not throw up a decisive verdict, said
the massive turnout at the recent campaign meetings of his
party proved there was no apathy among the people.
``People are fed up with the UF-type arrangement at the
Centre. We are better placed in this election and we will
be the principal beneficiary,'' he said.
He said his party would like the government to play a more
pro-active role. While emphasising that liberalisation has
been a credo with the party right from its Jan Sangh days,
Mr Vajpayee said that the state has to be more responsive
to the problems confronting its people. ``Reforms should
not mean total withdrawal of government from sectors like
health and education,'' he said.
Mr Vajpayee said his party, if elected to power, would
reform the reform process, adding the process needs to be
focused properly as the Congress initiated the reforms
process not out of conviction, but to tide over a crisis.
Reforms will be given a ``pro-people orientation'', he
said.
The BJP leader also blamed the lack of clear understanding
of the process for the current economic instability. ``Our
economy is in shambles, our agricultural and industrial
production have slumped and fiscal deficit continues to be
a problem,'^Q he said.
Indicating that the party would sharpen its rhetoric to be
the chief beneficiary of the discontent among the people
over the economic policy, Mr Vajpayee said his party would
not allow onion prices to skyrocket at a time when luxury
cars and cellphones are available at cheaper rates. He said
the Prime Minister's assertion that there was need for
caution shows that the government has not been able to
tackle the economic crisis
effectively.
The BJP leader also said his government would not allow
indiscriminate closure of public sector units. ``PSUs were
indiscriminately established. It was a step in the
socialist direction. But the government never thought of an
effective managerial set-up to run these institutions. If
they are making losses, the workers should not be blamed
and made victims,'' he said.
Mr Vajpayee said his party would work out a scheme to
revive the ``workable PSUs''. ``I believe many of them can
still be redeemed,'' he said.
------------------------------
Date: Jan. 11, 1998
Source: Hindustan Times
Ajit seeks fortune with saffron party
NEW DELHI, Jan. 10 (By Saroj Nagi)
Spurned by the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh,
Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party (BKKP) leader Ajit Singh is
currently making a serious bid to join forces with the
Bharatiya Janata Party.
His emissary Satpal Malik met BJP president L. K Advani on
Wednesday in a bid to seek an understanding between the two
parties for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
While the BKKP chief is keen to join forces with the Hindutva
party, the BJP is unable to resolve the contradiction
inherent in the situation in which Mr Ajit Singh and Mr
Sompal-who joined the BJP recently would have to co-exist.
Mr Sompal, who was close to former Premier V. P. Singh, had
quit the Rashtriya Janata Dal and joined the BJP while
declaring that he would contest the Baghpat seat against Mr
Ajit Singh. Similarly, the BJP had also inducted former
Punjab Governor Virendra Verma to fight the BKKP and bolster
its chances in the Jat belt.
Mr Ajit Singh, who is reported to have contacted Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and State unit chief
Rajnath Singh, decided that his future was better assured
through a tie-up with the BJP than with the Jan Morcha.
The BJP State leadership also appears to think that roping in
the BKKP would hero it reinforce its majority in the State
Assembly. With the fate of the 13 BSP legislators hanging in
the balance, the BJP feels that the BKKP should be taken in
as an ally.
The eight legislators that the BKKP has would give an edge to
the BJP-led combine which would be left with a two-member
margin in case the breakaway BSP legislators are not
recognised as a separate group.
The BJP, which is looking for ways to enhance its
parliamentary tally in the State, feels that a tie-up with
the BKKP would help both. To the advocates of the BJP-BKKP
tie-up, Mr Sompal is seen as a leader without a mass base who
may even find it difficult to win the Baghpat seat for the
The issue is likely to be decided in the next two or three
days while the BJP leadership is in the Capital to finalise
the list of candidates.
------------------------------
Date: jan. 11, 1998
Source: Times of India
Vajpayee appeals to people's emotions to do justice to BJP
By M. Gautham Machaiah
MANGALORE: Former prime minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee used his one-day trip to Karnataka to
appeal to the emotions of the people, often
seeking their blessings or requesting them to
render justice to a wronged Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP).
Mr Vajpayee's tour took him through Bidar,
Gulbarga, Hubli and Mangalore where he was
greeted by huge crowds. But the scepticism that
the cheering crowds need not necessarily
translate into votes did not spare the BJP
leader.
``Please convert your blessings into votes in
favour of the BJP so that we can form a stable
government at the Centre,'' he appealed at Bidar,
a backward district of the state.
By the time he arrived at the port city of
Mangalore in the evening, Mr Vajpayee was beaming
with confidence. ``Wherever I have gone, the huge
crowds, including a big chunk of women have
listened to me in attention. I can claim there is
a wave in favour of the BJP which will be
stronger and stronger as the campaign goes on. I
am certain that the people will exercise their
franchise in such a manner that there will be a
stable government at the Centre.''
Mr Vajpayee then went on to narrate how the BJP
was pulled down from power after its 13-day rule,
though it was the single largest party. ``Lok
Sabha is not the highest court. I have brought my
complaint before you, the people, and I hope you
will render justice to the BJP.''
Like party president L.K. Advani, who toured the
state earlier in the week, Mr Vajpayee made it a
point to assure Muslims that they had nothing to
fear from the BJP. ``A large number of Muslims
are attending our meetings. Obviously, there is a
growing realisation that other parties have done
nothing to solve their social and economic
problems. For us, the Muslims and the Christians
are not vote banks, but human beings and
respected citizens of the motherland.''
Surprisingly, both Mr Advani and Mr Vajpayee were
soft on former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
While the Congress received a rap on the knuckle
at all public speeches, Mr Gowda got a pat on the
back. At Mandya, the hotbed of Vokkaliga
politics, Mr Advani even went to the extent of
describing Mr Gowda as a good Prime Minister.
Mr Vajpayee, on the other hand, said Mr Gowda had
to go because he sought to expose the corrupt
deeds of the Congress leaders. ``Why did the
Congress bring down Mr Gowda but continue to
support the UF? What is the mystery behind this?
The reason is that Mr Gowda seriously
investigated all charges against the Congress
leaders.''
Mr Vajpayee left little doubt that he was all set
to take over as Prime Minister. ``Our priorities
will be education, health, hygiene and
nutrition.'' The BJP leader also sent the right
signals towards China and Pakistan saying, ``We
want friendly relations with all our
neighbours.''
Corruption was also high on his agenda. ``We will
bring the Prime Minister under the purview of Lok
Pal. If the Prime Minister is corrupt, he should
be put behind the bars.''
------------------------------
Date: Jan. 11, 1998
Source: Deccan Herald
Yediurappa spells out party's strategy for elections
BJP to bank on stability plank
By Laiqh A Khan
DH News Service
BANGALORE, Jan 10
Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yediyurappa said his party would not
forcefully impose its contentious agenda vis-a-vis Ram Mandir, uniform civil
code and Article 370 on ''reluctant`` people. It would instead try to
convince the opposed sections about the viability of party programmes.
Mr Yediyurappa said: ''If we do not succeed in our mission to convince and
bring them around, we will wait. In today`s circumstances, the party
attaches importance to more pressing needs like stability and good
governance, which other parties have hopelessly failed to ensure. These are
the issues which cannot wait and we treat them as our priorities.``
Mr Yediyurappa spoke on a variety of issues in an exclusive interview with
Deccan Herald on Friday morning, just before leaving for New Delhi with
party`s prime ministerial candidate Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Mr Yediyurappa maintained that the party stood by its ideology and would not
dilute its stand on the controversial issues of Ayodhya, common civil code
and Article 370. ''But the BJP is keen on undoing the damage caused to the
nation during the 50 years of 'misrule` by other parties, mainly the
Congress,`` he said.
Change of heart: He claimed that there had been an unmistakable change of
heart among the Muslims towards the BJP. The Muslims, who used to live in
fear in the BJP-ruled states a few years ago, ''do not harbour the kind of
insecurity today,`` he said citing the situation in places like Maharashtra.
''For instance, burkha-clad women tied rakhi on Mr Advani`s wrists during
his visit to Mysore recently,`` he pointed out.
On BJP`s electoral alliances, Mr Yediyurappa clarified that ideology and
principles did not form the basis of their tie-ups with other parties. All
outfits forging alliances with his party ''are not bound by the BJP
ideology. They are free to remain committed to their own principles and
ideologies.``
The BJP was not setting any condition to its allies to commit themselves to
its programmes and manifesto. ''The same holds good`` for former chief
minister Ramakrishna Hegde`s Lok Shakti also.
When asked whether the entire excercise of forging pre-poll understanding
was with a self- serving purpose of grabbing power, Mr Yediyurappa replied
in the negative and said, ''It was in the interest of the country that
parties were coming`` to them.
On his party`s disinclination to ally with former chief minister S
Bangarappa`s Karnataka Vikas Party (KVP), he said his party had brought out
handbills ''chargesheeting`` Mr Bangarappa when the latter was the chief
minister. This aspect was still fresh in the memory of BJP workers who had
distributed such handbills to people. The rank and file would be demoralised
by such an understanding.
Poll alliance: He noted that the United Front Government assumed power after
the 1996 Lok Sabha polls on account of the ''unethical post-electoral
alliances between political entities, which had fought bitterly against one
another in the just-concluded elections. In contrast, our party is
finalising tie-ups well before the polls,`` he said.
Though the BJP and their allies ''do not have a common minimum programme
(CMP), if voted to power, the BJP-led government, which will include
representatives from its partners, will function in a cohesive manner and
understanding.``
Mr Yediyurappa said his party considered the Congress its main rival in
Karnataka. But Mrs Sonia Gandhi`s decision to campaign for the party would
do little to improve its (Congress`s) bleak prospects. ''Far from Sonia, the
Congress will not win even if god himself were to come,`` he said.
The Congress exploited the Jain Commission`s interim report with a view to
securing ''sympathy vote.`` But the Congress was not able to win a majority
when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during the 1991 general election.
Advani's role: When asked about party national President L K Advani`s role
in case the BJP was voted to power and senior leader Atal Behari Vajpayee
became the prime minister, Mr Yediyurappa said Mr Advani would be a senior
member of the Vajpayee-led Government. ''We will convince him to become a
senior member of his Cabinet. After all Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani have been
the two eyes of the party.``
On BJP`s links with Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and
the Bajrang Dal, Mr Yediyurappa said though they were part of the Sangh
Parivar, senior leaders of the party would decide whether their demands
''are to be included in the BJP`s political agenda or not. The RSS and the
VHP are like our parents, we will discuss issues with them,`` he added.
------------------------------
End of bjp-l-digest V2 #30
**************************