Briefing the media on Shah’s inaugural address at the two-day national executive, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the Congress and the Left parties, which he referred to as “supporters of Maoists and followers of Stalinism”. He indicated that the JNU row — which the party feels has provided political mileage to it — was the highlight of Shah’s speech.
“In JNU, anti-national slogans…on destroying India were raised. Rahul Gandhi went there. He did not say anything about these slogans but instead justified them on the ground of freedom of expression. BJP welcomes any criticism of the party, person or government, but it will not tolerate criticism of the country. While BJP fully respects freedom of expression, patently anti-national activity cannot be justified on the plea of freedom of expression. It is plainly not acceptable,” Prasad quoted Shah as saying.
“The Congress, especially Rahul Gandhi, is questioning what the Modi government did. Here is my reply. The Modi government has given corruption-free governance, dynasty-free leadership, and stability and hope to people,” Prasad said, quoting Shah.
The BJP national executive is meeting for the first time after the party’s defeat in Bihar. Shah said the BJP will “fight as a serious player in Kerala, West Bengal and Assam”. But he did not mention Tamil Nadu, where the AIADMK, considered to be on good terms with the BJP, is ruling.
Prasad also called the slogans raised in JNU “the most ugly face of anti-nationalism”.
Attacking the Left and the Congress for their criticism of the government over freedom of expression, Prasad recalled the Emergency and also called opposition parties “supporters” of Maoism and Stalin. “Have you seen top level leaders of the CPM, CPI or the Congress castigating the slogans? No. Have they condemned the blatantly anti-national slogans?” he said.
Indicating that the BJP plans to use the JNU row to its advantage during the assembly polls, Prasad said the party, when it adopts a political resolution Sunday, will continue its focus on nationalism and will spell out programmes to take its message to the masses.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, in a 30-minute “informal” address to office bearers in the morning, asked them to act as a bridge between the party and the government. He also cautioned party office bearers against alienating workers and said they should constantly be in touch.
Taking the cue, Shah asked party leaders to hold six programmes per booth each year to receive feedback and take the government’s initiatives to the ground level. “There should be weekly conversations with workers,” Shah is learnt to have told them.
