Yatra not on hold for good: Jaitley

The BJP today defended Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s now shelved ‘‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’’ as ‘‘a normal ...

The BJP today defended Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s now shelved ‘‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’’ as ‘‘a normal political campaign’’ without any religious overtones.

BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley said the yatra has been deferred and contended it was a component of political freedom, which again was an integral part of human rights.

The party, after consultations between the high command and the state unit, had decided to postpone the yatra because it did not wish to give ‘‘an unnecessary handle’’ to opponents to exploit the situation now.

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Even though peace is the BJP’s priority, Jaitley said, it is important that there is ‘‘no curtailment of legitimate political activity in the state’’.

The yatra is aimed at the restoration of the state’s prestige and dignity, particularly when there has been a campaign of calumny against it.

‘‘Surely, the dignity and prestige of Gujarat concerns all,’’ Jaitley said. He recalled that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had held political rallies in Gujarat while parts of Ahmedabad were under curfew.

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