Sonia just a rival, not enemy BJP

Bhopal, Mar 29: A day after Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi claimed that she was ''enemy number one'' of the Opposition, BJP today clarified that it didn't consider Ms Gandhi as its ''enemy'' but only as a political rival.

''By criticising the policies and programmes of the Congress, the BJP was only discharging its responsibility as an Opposition'', BJP Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here today.

''Terrorism, minority appeasement, vote-bank politics, insecurity among people and threat to national security are our enemies and we are effectively countering them,'' he said.

During her tour of Rae Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Ms Gandhi alleged that she was the number one enemy of the Opposition.

Mr Naidu claimed that drastic change was apparent in the country's politics after Assembly elections in five states in view of the changing scenario after the office of profit controversy and mid-term elections could not be ruled out.

He said UPA allies like Samajwadi Party and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti were keeping a distance and even the Left Parties continued their criticism of Congress on various issues.

''In view of such developments, anything including mid-term polls were possible and the BJP was fully prepared for it,'' the BJP leader said.

On BJP leaders continuing to hold 'office of profit', he said the Supreme Court and the Election Commission's directions had made it clear the term should be redefined.

Brushing aside the Congress' claim that Ms Gandhi had renounced from her post, Mr Naidu said she had resigned apprehending disqualification by the Election Commission. He alleged that Ms Gandhi and her party were trying to draw political mileage from her resignation. The Congress was in a predicament over the office of profit controversy. However, the BJP was being dubbed as its enemy though the BJP never demanded Ms Gandhi's resignation as the National Advisory Committee Chairperson.

He criticised the burning of effigies of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former BJP President L K Advani saying it only exposed the Congress.

Describing Ms Gandhi's resignation as a mere drama, Mr Naidu said the Congress had a tradition of enacting such dramas.

''After three days of show business, the Congress camp had been disappointed and the party had to face the consequences,'' he said.

On expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti's request to the BJP to field a joint candidate against the Congress Chief from Rae Bareilly, the BJP Vice-President said the party would take a decision after consulting the Uttar Pradesh unit.

He declined to comment on Ms Bharti's allegations that the BJP had not lent any support for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya.

UNI