'Sonia's move to polarise votes, Babri sting won't affect BJP'

Kolkata, Apr 6: The

on Sunday said

President

's meeting with Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari in an attempt to polarise Muslim votes, and a recent sting by a news portal would not affect the saffron party's prospects in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

"Sonia Gandhi is trying to polarise 15 per cent of Muslim votes forgetting that 75 per cent non-Muslims could also be polarised, as every action has a reaction," BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh said.

Asked if Bukhari's appeal could affect BJP prospects, Singh said, "Well I don't think so. Imam Bukhari has aligned with many parties in the past. At the same time, it is saddening that Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party are seeking open religious support. It also shows that Congress has a famine of achievements to showcase."

Singh also termed the recent sting operation by a news portal, which had alleged that senior BJP leaders were in know of the Babri Masjid Demolition, as a handiwork of Congress's "dirty trick departments" to polarise the Muslim votes.

"The timing is suspect. The content is suspect. The issues being raised has been looked into by CBI courts and the Liberhan Commission. And, nowhere the indictment has been made that there has been a conspiracy. So the Congress is using its dirty tricks department to polarise Muslim votes," he said.

"We don't look for Hindu votes and Muslim votes. It is about 120 crore Indians and economic development," he said. Asked about differences between L K Advani and Narendra Modi, Singh said, "I don't think there has been any dissent.

"There is completely no difference and no issue between Advaniji and Modiji. Advaniji has been campaigning for Narendra Modi and Modiji was present during Advaniji's nomination filing. Advaniji had always wanted to fight from Gandhinagar," Singh said.

Reacting to allegation by the Congress that BJP did not respect senior leaders, Singh said, "I don't think it is the right way to put it. "All these senior leaders had brought this party to a level where we are today again looking at forming the government. The time comes for the youngsters to take over, so I don't think that it is happening without the blessings of the seniors. Our ideology doesn't allow us to ignore our seniors."

Commenting on the recent rebellion by veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh, he said,"We all respect him highly. Our seniors had taught us to maintain the discipline of the party. I feel saddened that respectful leaders like Jaswant Singh had not practised what they preached to us."

Questioned about BJP's election campaign's focus on Modi, Singh said, "After the 2012 Gujurat election victory, there was public hype for Narendra Modi. I think history is being created as the party is just listening to the public demand as they want to hear Narendra Modi."

Asked whether Modi was becoming larger than life in the BJP, Singh said "It is not the party, but the people of the country which has made him such a tall leader. So how can we blame the people in a democratic process."

On whether the BJP would reach out to Trinamool Congress after the Lok Sabha polls, Singh who is also BJP's co-Incharge of Bengal said,"Yes, she (Mamata Banerjee) was once part of NDA, but then she was not the CM.

"In last three years there has been nothing in the name of development, while law and order has deteriorated. I don't think BJP will be interested to rub her anti-incumbency before the 2016 assembly elections."

PTI