Vajpayee sees winds of change in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Dec 24 (UNI) Seeing winds of change in favour of BJP in the forthcoming polls from all sides, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today gave a call for cadre and leadership to achieve victories in Uttar Pradesh and three other states for reviving the party's glorious past.

"The elections in four states,'' he said,'' was opening doors for newer possibilities of changing the political map of the country and and take the party towards ascendence (Utthan). We have to ensure that our influence is stable and long lasting in the states he said remarking "We have to tread our path to Delhi via Lucknow." Addressing the concluding session of the two-day National Council in his home constituency of Lucknow that ratified the election of BJP President Rajnath Singh, Mr Vajpayee said when the enemies are posing challenges to BJP, the only mantra with which it could counter woud be to work together shoulder to shoulder.

"There is no place for groupism," Mr Vajpayee who is observing his 83rd birth anniversary tomorrow said.

Mr Vajpayee said the recently-concluded Urban bodies elections in Uttar Pradesh have generated hopes of the party performing well in the Assembly elections at a time when media was painting a gloomy picture for the party.

Taking a dig at U P Chief Minister and ruling Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, he said while he was thankful for the CM for conferring state 'hospitality' for his visit, he could not forgive the killings and beheading of BJP workers in the state.

While he could understand political rivalries among the cadres, he could never fathom how a person could stoop so low as to behead another human being just because he believed in a different ideology that too in an era where human rights are respected.

He said in U P, the BJP is not fighting for power or votes but for values of life, national ideals and the call of responsibilities and for ensuring justice.

''We should make the people of the state understand the needs of changing times and bring conducive atmosphere for developing the state.'' Recalling his Lucknow links right from his student life when he came to the city for studying law after his post graduation, Mr Vajpayee lapsed into an emotional phase. ''My mother breathed her last here and my father's ashes were immersed here in Gomti river. Looking at the state of the river, here, our blood gets boiling. It is important that we revive Gomti's purity but also of U P,'' he remarked.

Mr Vajpayee had a word of praise for Mr Rajnath Singh who was equally well versed both in organisational work as well as administrational prowess.

UNI MCN RP HT1345