Cadre should not voice personal opinion during yatra: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 8: Wary of the party speaking in different voices and the embarrassment this would cause, BJP on Oct 8 asked its cadre and media management personnel not to express any "personal opinions" or differ from the party's official line during senior leader L K Advani's Yatra.

Addressing a BJP media management workshop for its office bearers from across the country, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley emphasised the need for discipline within the party cadre during the Jan Chetna Yatra. "We do not want our local leaders to speak a different language during the yatra. No personal opinion should be expressed. They should speak only on the issues which are on the agenda of the yatra," Jaitley said.

He asked the office bearers to ensure that those local leaders who speak as fillers or who have to say a few words to welcome Advani and other senior leaders do not deviate from the issues and say something that creates a controversy. "What the local leaders say is also important.

"Anybody should not be allowed to speak (from a public platform) without knowing what he will say," he said.

BJP has often had egg on its face due to various leaders- even at the seniormost level- voicing opinions which are not in sync with the party's official line.

Jaitley also asked the party cadre, which will handle media affairs at different places during the 38-day yatra across 23 states and four union territories, not to be unsettled by press criticism during the yatra.

"We do not have to set aside our agenda and have to work with a single-minded focus," Jaitley said, adding that criticism of the programme from some sections is unavoidable.

PTI