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Journalism of Courage
The BJP today sought support for Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati8217;s initiative to resolve the Ayodhya issue and refused to enter into 8216;8216;public debate8217;8217; with the VHP on the seer8217;s plan.
8216;8216;If the Kanchi seer is taking initiative to solve the issue amicably, all should support him without creating hurdles,8217;8217; party president Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.
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8216;Mathura, Kashi aren8217;t part of BJP8217;s agenda8217;
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NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the heat generated by the issue, the BJP is reticent on the Mathura and Kashi shrines. Party general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to brush the issue under the carpet by contending: 8216;8216;These are not on our agenda. The BJP has not taken a decision on Kashi and Mathura. The party has not discussed them. There is no Ayodhya formula before the BJP involving Kashi and Mathura.8217;8217; You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
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On the VHP8217;s objection to the 8216;8216;secret parleys8217;8217; on the Kanchi seer8217;s plan for a solution to the vexed problem and BJP8217;s attempt to defuse the situation, the BJP leader said: 8216;8216;We do not want a public debate with VHP over this issue.8217;8217;
Naidu termed as 8216;8216;propaganda8217;8217; the argument that the BJP came to power on Ram mandir issue.
Naidu also supported the meeting of Defence Minister George Fernandes and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh with the Kanchi seer. Talking to mediapersons here today, he said a saint can meet anybody.
He, however, did not support the suggestion that VHP was trying to scuttle the Sankracharya8217;s efforts, saying that the Parishad is also a national organisation that has its own viewpoint.
Reiterating the party8217;s stand on the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and abrogation of Article 370, Naidu denied that the BJP has left these issues. 8216;8216;It is our political compulsion as we are running a coalition government at the Centre and the NDA allies do not want abrogation of Article 370,8217;8217; he added.
On the Prime Minister8217;s initiative for peace with Pakistan, the BJP chief said that there will be no bargaining on Kashmir. The integration of J-K with the Indian Union is 8216;8216;full and final8217;8217;, he said, adding that the Centre has adopted a two-fold strategy for speed restoration of peace in the state. Under this strategy, it has decided to hold talks with Pakistan on the one hand while curb terrorism on the other, he said.
Criticising the healing touch policy of the Mufti Sayeed government, he said it should have been for the victims of militant violence and security forces who laid down their lives. However, it is difficult to assess performance of a state government in just eight months, he said, adding that it should end discrimination between Jammu and Ladakh regions.
