Author:
Publication: BJP Today
Date: August 1-15, 2000
Q.1) Dear Shri Atalji,
what is your message to the readers of BJP Today through this special Independence
Day issue?
Ans: I send my heartiest
felicitations to all readers of BJP Today, and all the workers and supporters
of our Party, on the joyous occasion of the first Independence Day of the
new century. In the middle of the last century, Mother India won her freedom
after a long and exemplary struggle against colonial rule. We have many
proud achievements to our credit in nation building in the first five decades
of Freedom. However, we also have many dreams that are yet unrealized.
Learning proper lessons from the past, we must rededicate ourselves to
the task of building a strong, prosperous, and egalitarian India; an India
that is free of every trace of underdevelopment; a caring and compassionate
India; and an India that regains her rightful role in shaping the destiny
of the world in the new century and the new millennium.
In this momentous task,
it has fallen upon our Party, along with our allies, to provide the right
leadership to the country. It is the responsibility of every Party member
to understand the full import of this historic responsibility. My message
to all our Party workers is just this: Be guided by our basic principles
and further strengthen our proud tradition of always putting the nation
and the organization above every kind of narrow self-interest.
Q.2) What would you consider
the most outstanding achievement of our Government since you became Prime
Minister on March 19, 1998?
Ans: The most important
achievement and this is an achievement not so much of the Government, but
of the entire country-has been that India is a stronger, more secure, and
much more self-confident nation today than in the past. When we approached
the people of India for a mandate in the election to the 12th Lok Sabha
in March 1998, we had promised that national security would be one of our
first and foremost priorities. We fulfilled this promise with our historic
action of exercising the nuclear option at Pokharan in May 1998.
We took that bold decision
based on our sound and careful assessment of the needs of our national
security. Subsequent developments in the past two years have vindicated
our conviction. The world today recognizes India as a powerful country
that is capable of meeting any challenge to its national security. Some
countries criticized our action and even imposed sanctions against us.
These conditions however failed to have much impact. Today, the situation
is such that the very countries that imposed sanctions against us are engaged
with us in strengthening mutually beneficial ties. They view India with
greater respect than in the past and appreciate that we, am a responsible
nuclear power.
We demonstrated our determination
and our capability to meet the challenge to our national security when
Pakistan inflicted the Kargil War on us last year. Our defence forces won
a spectacular victory for India against the greatest of odds. The entire
nation stood as one in an exemplary show of solidarity behind our brave
Jawans and airmen. We are eternally grateful to the martyrs who laid down
their lives for the honor of the Motherland.
Q.3) Would you say that
the Government has some achievements in areas other than national security?
Ans: We are making rapid
strides in economic and social development. We have been able to reverse
the decline in our economy's growth rate, which is now steadily rising.
Our growth rate has increased from 5.1 percent to more than 7 percent this
year. Food production has bit new records, so have our foreign exchange
reserves. There is enormous optimism about the economic future. not just
among big businesses but among our young people too. India's capability
in Information Technology has won global recognition and we are well on
our way to becoming one of the leading powers in IT.
Peace and normalcy are
slowly returning to Jammu & Kashmir. Our Government has also succeeded
in maintaining communal peace and harmony. The propaganda of our adversaries
on this score has fallen flat. Our countrymen know fully well that our
Party and Government are committed to secularism not only in words but
in action too. The unfortunate incidents in recent times are an aberration.
The Government has acted-and will continue to act-in a fair and firm manner
in dealing with the issue of communal trouble. I would, however, like to
emphasize here that it is the collective responsibility of the Government
and social, cultural, and religious organizations to foster goodwill, understanding,
and cooperation among all sections of our society.
Q.4) Has there been any
disappointment or frustration due to non-achievement of objectives that
you consider especially important? What were the obstacles that came in
your way?
Ans: If I have to describe
my disappointments in the past two-and-a-half years, I would like to mention
only two. I think that the manner in which our Government was destabilized
last year was very unfortunate. The Congress party had earlier pulled down
two United Front Governments in quick succession. It was unwilling to accept
the fact that the electorate had rejected it in both the 1996 and 1998
parliamentary polls The people of India, however, taught the destabilizers
a fitting lesson in the election last year. They have given a renewed mandate
to the NDA. I assure them, through BJP Today, that we will spare no effort
to fulfill the promises we have made in the common manifesto of the NDA.
Secondly, the slow pace
of implementation of our policies and programs often fills me with deep
disappointment. The system of governance and administration that we have
inherited from the past is not sufficiently responsive to the growing expectations
and aspirations of our people. We need deep-going administrative. judicial
and other institutional reforms to supplement and strengthen our economic
reforms.
The entire governmental
establishment must recognize the tremendous hunger for development and
better standards of living all across the country, especially in those
regions and social sections that have become victims of developmental imbalances.
This hunger has to be quickly satisfied. For this, all the institutions
and agencies of development must learn to work faster, better, and with
greater coordination. They must inculcate in themselves a sense of service
to the people, especially to the poorest and the most neglected.
Q.5) What is the lesson
that our Party should learn from the politics of alliances and coalition
governance that we are presently engaged in?
Ans: The BJP can take
legitimate credit for bringing much-needed political stability in the country
after it had suffered a fairly long period of instability. Notwithstanding
some initial hiccups, we have begun to master the art of running an effective
coalition Government. For this, I thank all the constituents of the National
Democratic Alliance. The NDA is a political manifestation of the social
diversity of India. The experience of governance has helped our regional
parties to play a role at the national level on an equal basis. At the
same time, it has helped our Party to become more sensitive to regional
issues and aspirations. In the process, the entire country has been a gainer.
The politics of alliance among political parties with differing perspectives
and backgrounds, but based on a common program, has strengthened Indian
democracy. It has also helped our Party to expand into new regions and
win support among newer sections of society.
Ever since our alliance
assumed the reins of office, we in the BJP have taken conscious steps to
strengthen the culture of coalition governance. The people have appreciated
this. Our Party should further consolidate this positive experience, knowing
that the era of coalitions is here to stay for quite some time in India.
Q.6) There is much debate
in the media and in political circles about the content and direction of
economic reforms. Often divergent views are expressed not only by the BJP's
critics but also by those of our supporters who profess Swadeshi. What
would you say is the main thrust of our Government's economic policies?
Ans: This is a very
important question. It calls for clarity and commonality of thought in
the Party and among its supporters. First, I would like to affirm that
interests of the nation and interests of the common man are the defining
principles of our Government's economic policies. These policies have a
central theme: how to strengthen India's economic base by accelerating
the growth of our agriculture, industry, trade, and services by making
the best use of our own national resources, and how to reach the benefits
of this growth to all the regions of our country and all sections of our
population. Swadeshi, in today's context, is anything that promotes this
national goal. India could not realize this goal in spite of our many undeniable
achievements in the past fifty years. This is because of certain policies
and systems that may have served a useful purpose at a certain point in
time, but later outlived their utility and shackled our rapid economic
progress. Removing these shackles and enabling our economy to grow according
to its full potential to serve the growing needs of our growing population,
is the principal purpose of economic reforms.
Q.7) How do our Government's
economic policies tally with, or differ from, the BJP's previous thinking
on economic matters?
Ans: We were all along
in favor of decontrol, deregulation, and de-bureaucratization because of
our belief that excessive government control held back India's progress.
Thus, speeding up the process of internal liberalization is entirely in
line with our Party's traditional economic thinking. As far as external
liberalization is concerned, our Government will continue to move cautiously.
All of us should recognize that globalization is an irreversible phenomenon.
No country can keep away fully from it without hurting itself. Globalization
has brought both new challenges and new opportunities to India. The stronger
India becomes internally, the easier it will be for us to face its challenges
and seize its opportunities. Also, the more we seize the opportunities
presented by globalization, the stronger will we become internally. Thus,
Swadeshi, internal liberalization, and globalization are all complementary,
and not contradictory, to each other. This is the kernel of our economic
reforms.
Of course, I must admit
that our understanding of the importance of such reforms and their urgency
has considerably increased after assuming the responsibility of governance.
We are now far more responsive to changes in the national and international
economic scenario. In today's fast-moving world, only those countries can
progress fast that respond to the process of change with self-confidence
and sound knowledge. This does not at all mean that we should ignore our
indigenous strengths or belittle our past achievements. No. It only means
that we should not be shy of new thinking and bold action while dealing
with long-persisting problems, which we know we cannot live with.
Q.8) Population explosion
is one such problem requiring bold action for a long time. It is more acute
in Northern States than in the South. In fact, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are
reported to have reached a near-zero increase stage. Is the Government
taking any special steps to attend to this imbalance?
Ans: This is an issue
over which we must evolve a powerful national consensus without any delay.
Our Government has recently announced a new Population Policy that has
not only set revised targets, but has improved the process by which these
targets are sought to be achieved. We have set up a Population Commission,
which held its first meeting on July 22. It has come up with a set of specific
measures to achieve our goal of stabilizing our population as fast as possible.
I am concerned about
the rapidly increasing population of some of our North Indian States. The
Governments - of these States must learn from the successes of Kerala and
Tamil Nadu. Faster socioeconomic development coupled with the education
and empowerment of women is crucial for stabilizing the population in these
States. However, governmental efforts alone can never be enough. I strongly
urge all the NG0s, including religious organizations and their leaders,
to create mass awareness about population stabilization and family welfare.
The Government and the people should together make this issue into a national
mission.
In this connection, I
would appeal to all our Party members to follow small family norms in their
personal lives and vigorously propagate the same in their neighborhoods
and communities.
Q.9) While on the issue
of population, is the Government considering taking steps against illegal
infiltrators from say, Bangladesh? The Governor of Assam has said that
the results of the 2001 Census could be startling. No census could be held
in Assam in 1981 and again in 1991 because the Congress did not want population
statistics in the region to come into the open.
Ans: This is a serious
but delicate matter. Our talks with Bangladesh on this issue are continuing.
Nevertheless, we should be especially careful on two scores. Bangladesh
is our neighbor and we have very friendly bilateral relations, which both
of us wish to further strengthen. This must be kept in mind. At the same
time, it is not right for any political party to be guided by, vote-bank
considerations for short-term gains, knowing fully well that continued
illegal immigration would have serious long-term implications for India.
Q.10) The National Water
Policy is awaited. Is it likely to be announced before long?
Ans: The Policy document
is ready. However, some 'States wish to have their concerns be adequately
reflected in it. Therefore, we have decided to reformulate certain parts
of the policy. A Group of Ministers has been asked to complete this task
at the earliest.
I am distressed over
the lack of sufficient awareness and concern in our country over the issue
of water. Scarcity of water, including drinking water, is already a serious
and recurring problem in many areas, both urban and rural. It will assume
graver proportions in the coming decades if our society does riot develop
a practice for rational, responsible and equitable use of water. We must
reduce wastage of water everywhere. We must also clean up the existing
sources of water, while simultaneously creating new sources wherever possible.
Here again, what we need is not only a sound policy, but also a good partnership
between the Government and society. In this context, I heartily commend
the many NG0s who have been doing a good job in the drought-prone areas
of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and other States.
Q.11) Coming to the river
disputes, there was widespread acclamation at you settling the Cauvery
dispute. Is there any endeavor on your part to settle other such disputes?
Ans: I am happy that
we have been able to make an amicable breakthrough in the longstanding
dispute over Cauvery waters. For this, I thank the people and the chief
ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for showing a positive and cooperative
approach. All kinds of inter-State issues can be resolved through such
an approach.
Q.12) There is a strong
popular outrage towards the ruling establishment in Pakistan after Kargil;
the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar and Islamabad's
continued involvement in terrorist and subversive acts in India. How do
you propose to deal with this problem?
Ans: Our views on Pakistan
are well known. We want good relations with our neighbor. Propelled by
this objective, I had traveled to Pakistan to begin the Lahore initiative
for peace and cooperation. Unfortunately, certain hostile forces in Pakistan
scuttled this initiative with their misadventure in Kargil. Consequently,
Pakistan lost not only on the battlefront but also on the diplomatic front.
For the first time, India won widespread international support for the
righteousness of our cause. Today, the global support for India's stand
on cross-border terrorism, and the misuse of religion for inciting extremist
violence, has grown considerably. We are making concerted efforts to put
state-sponsored and religiously inspired terrorism on top of the global
agenda. Our efforts are bearing fruit.
It is now up to the Government
of Pakistan to restore the atmosphere suitable for the resumption of similar
efforts for peace. We have repeatedly stated that for the creation of such
a conducive atmosphere, Pakistan must take effective steps to control cross-border
terrorism in Kashmir and elsewhere. Its anti-India policy is futile. India
will never succumb to terrorism. We have both the means and the will to
crush it.
Q.13) The treatment meted
out to people of Indian origin in Fiji carries a feeling of humiliation.
Do you not think that the Government could do something to remove or reduce
this feeling?
Ans: The recent developments
in Fiji have caused a lot of concern to all of us. This concern is fully
shared by the Governments and peoples of many countries around the world.
Let me reassure you that my Government is committed to the welfare of all
persons of Indian origin. We will work with other countries in the Commonwealth
and outside for the restoration of peace, democracy, and a non-discriminatory
multi-ethnic constitutional order.
Q.14) Our Party workers
feet ignored by the Ministers in your Government. They do not get much
response. Would you consider giving any advice to your colleagues in this
regard? In addition on a broader Plane, can we have your guidance on the
right relationship between the Party and the Government?
Ans: I would like all
Party workers to realize that the Party and the Government complement and
strengthen each other. Unlike the Congress, which has ruled at the Centre
for over four decades, our experience of governance at the Centre is new.
We should learn from
both the positive and negative experiences of the past in the area of Party
Government relationship. Those in the Government should not ignore or neglect
the Party. After all, Party workers are effective communicators of the
Government's policies and programmes to the people at the grassroots. They
can also give a useful feedback from the grassroots to Government. Therefore,
we should have a proper mechanism for a close and regular interaction between
the Government and the Party organization. Some useful steps in this direction
have already been taken. I feel that more steps need to be taken.
At the same time, Party
workers should also understand that a minister does not represent only
the Party or his own constituency or State in the Union Government. His
or her role and responsibility as a minister are much wider. In fact, it
benefits both the Party and the country when representatives of the Government
perform this role in a non-partisan manner, always keeping in mind the
larger interests of the entire society.
Q.15) The Outlook (June
12 issue) magazine's contention that, while your personal image has gone
up continually, that of the Party is coming down. It is a discouraging
factor for our supporters and sympathizers. Could you kindly dispel this
feeling?
Ans: I do not agree
with this assessment. Ours is not a one man Party. The cult of the individual
is alien to the BJP's political culture. Our entire Government has been
performing well. Our Party has also achieved much under the presidency
of Shri Kushabhau Thakreji. We believe in collective effort for collective
Success. In this, each individual has to contribute to the best of his
or her ability and I have been trying to do just that.
