BJP promises to amend Art 51(A) once in power

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Declaring that there was no place for those opposing 'Vande Mataram' in the country, the BJP today declared that it would amend Article 51 (A) of the Constitution making it duty of every citizen to respect the National Flag, National Anthem and National Song when the party will have its own majority in Parliament.

Kick starting the Delhi BJP's 'Vande Mataram Campaign' as part of the birth anniversary of Jan Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay here, BJP President Rajnath Singh said the party never believed in discrimination against the minorities for the sake of 'vote bank'.

The Congress, he alleged, had capitulated to the demands of the secessionists not just now but after partition even when the Constituent Assembly had declared that National Anthem and National Song should be treated equally.

The BJP, he said, would amend the Constitution making it the fundamental duty of every citizen to respect the National Flag, National Anthem and National Song.

The BJP, he said, had assured the minorities that they would be treated on par with Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and they would be subjected to no discrimination.'' We are in politics not to get power for ourselves but to make India not only a strong economic but a strong society capable of tackling the global economic and powers that be,'' he said.

Turning to Pakistan, he said, when the NDA was in power at the Centre it had ensured that the peace talks with Pakistan could not make any inroads unless that country publicly accepted that it would not encourage terrorist outfits in India. He pointed towards the Joint Statement by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Gen Musharraf in January 2004, whereby Gen Musharraf publicly declared that his country will not allow its territory to be used for stoking terrorism against his neighbour.

Mr Singh said the BJP wanted no further peace talks with Pakistan or any offer of the Confidence Building measures until it took effective steps on the ground to dismantle terror infrastructure in its territory and areas under its control. "Jammu and Kashmir has been part and parcel of India and it will continue to remain so in future. No force on earth can take away this territory for which Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee laid down his life.'' He took exception to the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declaring that Pakistan too was a victim of terror at a time when the world was perceiving that country as epicentre of terror outfits.

About the claims of Pakistan President that it was Kargil war's effect that forced India to talk peace with his country, Mr Singh said the world community knew who the victor was not just in Kargil war but in three earlier conflicts -- 1948, 1965 and 1971.

He said on every occassion in the past, Pakistan had the backing of international community but it was only under the NDA regime that the situation was such that even Indian baiters could not afford to back Pakistan. "This was not just a victory in the war but also diplomatic victory," he contended.

Hailing the contribution of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Mr Rajnath Singh said it was he who had awakened the country's polity on the need to build the national foundation through honour and self respect of not just individuals but of the entire society.

UNI MCN PK PM2037