HVK Archives: =27Attack_on_minorities_a_ploy_to_defame_BJP=27?Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 10:19:27 -0000
=27Attack_on_minorities_a_ploy_to_defame_BJP=27?Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 10:19:27 -0000 - The Observer
Observer Political Bureau/ Agencies
()
February 1, 1999
Title: 'Attack on minorities a ploy to defame BJP'
Author: Observer Political Bureau/ Agencies
Publication: The Observer
Date: February 1, 1999
BJP President Kushabhau Thakre said that the 'campaign' against
minorities in the country was part of a 'conspiracy' to defame
the BJP to Government headed by it and ruled out involvement of
the Sangh Parivar outfits like the VHP and Bajrang Dal in the
recent violence against Christians.
"Those who are singing a bhajan against these
organisations...... it is not a new bhajan. Even when they were
in power they could not find any evidence (against these
organisations) in any violence," he said. Thakre said that the
conspiracy was hatched by foreign powers who were not happy with
this Government because it was not 'pliable.' "Give the dog a
bad name and hang it," he said in reply to a question whether
the Sangh Parivar outfits were emboldened because of a BJP-led
coalition at the Centre.
Though the Vajpayee Government would not spare any culprit
involved in recent attacks on Christians even if he belonged to
the BJP, VHP, RSS or Bajrang Dal, he said that he would not
condemn anybody just to please these parties.
Thakre said when 60 incidents of violence had taken place under
governments of other political parties why no punishment was
meted out to culprits. "Now they expect us to punish innocent
persons," he added.
Meanwhile, the Congress and CPI lashed out at the BJP-led
Government for failing to prevent attacks on minorities, even as
Defence Minister George Fernandes maintained there were "force
within and outside" trying to destabilise the Government. While
Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee said that conversion was a
constitutional right and sought a central legislation on the
issue, Fernandes said that certain elements were exploiting
"indigent circumstances" to create a crisis.
Participating in a Doordarshan programme 'On the Record', to be
telecast on Monday, Fernandes, while speaking on the recent
attacks on Christians said "there are forces within and outsides
who don't want this Government."
MoS for Human Resource Development Uma Bharati said there were
"powerful countries" which did not want the BJP-led coalition to
last. To this, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan and Mukherjee
asked them to identify the countries and to state what steps the
Government had taken to set the records straight.
He blamed the state governments where the incidents had occurred
for not having taken action despite having received reports
about threats or prevailing tension.
Back
Top
|
