BJP Parliamentary MPs endorse Advani's yatra

New Delhi, Mar 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentary Party today (Mar 14, 2006) endorsed the proposed National Integration Yatra against 'the appeasement policy' of the Centre, in the wake of twin blasts in Varanasi.

The Yatra will be led by senior leader L K Advani and party president Rajnath Singh.

Addressing BJP MPs, after they endorsed the yatra, Mr Advani said ''a misinformation campaign'' was going on against the yatra but it would not have any adverse impact over it. The elements behind this campaign would fail in their efforts, the former party chief said.

The yatra was an effective medium to educate the people about the problems confronting the nation, Mr Advani said, adding that from his experience he had concluded that the yatras did not create any social tension.

''The BJP had always been vocal against injustice and wrong policies of the Government,'' the former deputy prime minister said.

Referring to the Shahbano case and reservation in Andhra Pradesh on religious basis and the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration, the leader of Opposition said all these issues cropped up due to the appeasement policy and vote bank politics of the ruling coalition.

He accused the Centre of shielding the people, who set afire a coach of Sabarmati Express at Godhra carrying karsewaks, by appointing Justice U C Banerjee Committee.

Mr Advani also criticised the Sachar Committee report, which had sought a Muslim head-count in the defence forces. ''Such policies have threatened national unity and security and the yatra aims to educate the people about them.''

BJP Parliamentary party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that all the MPs had been directed to work for making the yatra a success in their constituencies. Keeping in view the Assembly elections in five states, the yatra will not touch these areas.

The MPs expressed their concern over the losses sustained due to unseasonal rains lashing many parts of the country including Vidarbha and Andhra Pradesh. They demanded adequate compensation to the farmers to overcome the losses.

UNI

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