Journalism of Courage
Premium
This is an archive article published on February 29, 2004
Falling in party line?
Making known where her loyalties lay, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla today heaped praises on Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee at ...
Written by SANTWANA BHATTACHARYA
New Delhi | February 29, 2004 12:00 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
Making known where her loyalties lay, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla today heaped praises on Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee at a public function here, saying he has achieved what the Congress had originally set out to do but could not.
Vajpayee, who promptly returned the compliment, said: 8216;8216;It is up to her Heptulla to decide when she wants to join the BJP8217;8217;. The PM was releasing the Devnagari transcription of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad8217;s Tarjumanul Quran, published by the ICCR of which Najma is the president.
Heptulla spoke glowingly about Vajpayee8217;s Indo-Pak peace initiative, saying: 8216;8216;It is in your time, Vajpayeeji, that this happening. You are clearing the debris of Partition8217;8217;. Next, she described the Prime Minister as the 8216;8216;light of the country8217;8217; and his Sadak Yojana as 8216;8216;a project for a road that is joining hearts8230;8221;
Carrying on with her tirade against the Congress leadership, Heptulla said: 8216;8216;It is the problem of the Congress leadership which cannot praise anybody else8217;s good work. Just because the PM is releasing the book, it does not mean that I am joining the BJP.8217;8217;
Quoting Maulana Azad, she went on: 8216;8216;If it is the janm adhikar birthright of the Hindus to fight the foreigner, it is a dharma adhikar moral right of the Muslims to do so8217;8217;, in a not-so-subtle reference to Sonia Gandhi.
Advertisement
Live Blog
PHOTOS
Top Stories
Advertisement
Must Read
Advertisement
Buzzing Now
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
Advertisement