BJP to focus on internal, financial security

The BJP will make 8220;security8221; its main plank for the coming parliamentary elections. Apart from 8220;internal security...

The BJP will make 8220;security8221; its main plank for the coming parliamentary elections. Apart from 8220;internal security8221; that has always been the party8217;s pet theme, the party will include 8220;economic security8221;, which it believes will occupy the centrestage in the coming weeks as 8220;livelihoods get affected with the global economic meltdown effect hitting the Indian shores8221;. The party will also repackage the 8220;right to food as a fundamental right8221; for the parliamentary elections.

The BJP claimed that by failing to remove Union Minister A R Antulay, 8220;who8217;s become a hero in the Pakistani media8221;, the 8220;Congress has showed that it wasn8217;t honest in its pronouncements on war on terror8221;.

8220;Posturing without follow-up measures can be counter-productive,8221; said BJP leader L K Advani on anti-terror laws while referring to 8220;different voices8221; emanating from the Government, especially those of Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who said that 8220;all options are open on Pakistan8221;, followed by that of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who ruled out 8220;war as an option8221;.

Asked if the BJP would like India to attack Pakistan, Advani said, 8220;It8217;s for the executive to take a decision. They the incumbent Government are privy to important and relevant information on this. We shall back them in whatever decision they take on this.8221;

Apart from internal security, the BJP plans to raise the issue of 8220;security of livelihood8221; in a big way in the coming elections. 8220;Job losses are being reported in many sectors, and the crisis is likely to worsen, given the present indicators,8221; said Advani. The BJP is said to be focussing on sectors like textiles, construction, manufacturing, steel where massive job cuts have been reported or are expected as a result of the meltdown.

After the 8220;right to food8221; got the party handsome dividends in Assembly polls in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh, the BJP is said to be working on a similar scheme for the entire country.