Tuesday, July 27, 2010

BJP National President, Shri Nitin Gadkari appoints a Study Group to prepare India Vision 2025 Document

Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari has set up a Study Group to prepare a vision document namely “India Vision 2025”. This vision document, the first of its type being prepared by a national political party; aims at putting forth the contours of BJP’s vision of national development with all its dimensions. From Agriculture to Infrastructure and Tribal Development to Energy it will focus mainly on over 50 subjects covering all major areas of national development.

The study group set up for the preparation of this Vision Document will be headed by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar as its convener. Party’s national executive member and industrialist Rajesh Shah will be its joint convener. BJP plans to involve and elicit inputs from researchers, experts and others even beyond the party fold.

The first meeting of this study group was held in the capital on July 24 in which besides Party President Nitin Gadkari, General Secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda, Treasurer Piyush Goyal, besides Rajeev Chnadrashekhar and Rajesh Shah participated. Also present were party functionaries like National Executive Member Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Journalist Kanchan Gupta, IT Professional Rajesh Jain and experts like M P Kumar, Neelesh Kulkarni and K V Raju etc. In the meeting CII’s Hari Bhartiya also made a brief presentation and shared his organisation’s vision.

This vision document will cover all areas of governance and public policy. To start with, this group will initially focus upon Urban Affairs, Energy and Water Resources. Besides, over 50 subjects viz. transport, rural development, information technology, telecommunication, irrigation, water transport and river connectivity, forest management, mining, industry, trade and commerce, textiles, fisheries and aqua culture, aviation, disaster management, law and judiciary, education, sports, and culture and many more such issues will be covered under this ambitious project.

BJP plans to take make this Vision Document a movement that will provide a forum to the people with innovative ideas and concepts for grass root development. It may be noted that earlier, before the last assembly elections in Maharashtra (2009) too BJP had prepared a Maharashtra Vision Document. Besides, BJP’s Karnataka government too has prepared a comprehensive Vision Document about two years before.

A portal will also be launched for this purpose in due course. BJP has extended an earnest appeal to all those who desire to participate in this project. Those who would like to give some suggestions and inputs for this Vision Document are requested to visit the website www.bjp.org/vision2025 and put forth their ideas and suggestions. Also, those wanting to send in their suggestions through an e-mail can write to vision2025@bjp.org The suggestions could be sent in before 31st October 2010.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Press statement issued by National General Secretary, Shri Vijay Goel

कांग्रेस - नीत यूपीए सरकार की गलत आर्थिक नीतियों, कुप्रबंधन और भ्रष्टाचार के परिणामस्वरूप आज महंगाई सारी सीमाओं को पार कर गई है। भाजपा इस यूपीए सरकार के जन-विरोधी नीतियों के विरूध्द सड़क से लेकर संसद तक अपना विरोध जारी रखेगी। इसी क्रम में बेलगाम बढ़ती महंगाई के विरूध्द आम जनता में जागरूकता पैदा करने व केन्द्र सरकार द्वारा पैट्रोल, डीज़ल, कैरोसीन व रसोई गैस की बढ़ी कीमतों को वापस लेने के उद्देश्य से भाजपा ने देशव्यापी हस्ताक्षर अभियान चलाया था। इस अभियान के तहत लगभग 10 करोड़ लोगों ने महंगाई विरोधी हस्ताक्षर अभियान में हस्ताक्षर कर अपना विरोध प्रदर्श्ाित किया है। दिनांक 29 जुलाई, 2010 को यह देशव्यापी हस्ताक्षरित ज्ञापन महामहिम राष्ट्रपति महोदया को सौंपा जाएगा। इस अवसर पर राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री नितिन गडकरी, भाजपा के सभी राष्ट्रीय पदाधिकारी, भाजपा के सभी वरिष्ठ नेतागण, सभी प्रदेशों के प्रदेश अध्यक्ष, एवं सभी सांसद सम्मिलित होंगे।


जहां भारत के लोग बढ़ती कीमतों के नीचे सिसक रहे हैं, वहीं आम आदमी पर कांग्रेस का हमला बदस्तूर जारी है। लोगों के घावों पर मरहम लगाने की बजाय कांग्रेस उन पर नमक छिड़कने पर तुली हुई है। पहले, केन्द्रीय बजट और फिर दिल्ली स्टेट के बजट ने लोगों की कमर तोड़ दी। केन्द्रीय बजट के द्वारा पैट्रोल, डीज़ल, उर्वरकों के मूल्य बढ़ाए गए, जिनका मुद्रास्फीति पर कुप्रभाव पड़ा और अन्य करों में भी वृध्दि हो गई। साथ ही सेवा कर ने भी आम आदमी पर भारी बोझ डाल दिया। फिर जून माह में पैट्रोल डीज़ल कैरोसिन ऑयल एवं रसोई गैस के दामों में फिर से वृध्दि की गई परिणामस्वरूप महंगाई थमने के बजाय बेहताशा बढ़ती ही जा रही है। आश्चर्य तो यह है कि एक तरफ तो महंगाई बढ़ रही है, दूसरी तरफ केंद्र में बैठी सरकार के मंत्री चुप्पी साधे बैठे है। देश के अर्थशास्त्री प्रधानमंत्री अनुभवी वित्त मंत्री भविष्यवाणियां कर रहें हैं। कुछ माह में महंगाई कम होने की बात की जा रही है कांग्रेसनीत सरकार आश्वासन ही देती रही है कि मंहगाई कम होगी। लेकिन मंहगाई रूकने का नाम ही नही ले रही है। कालाबाजारी, स्टॉककिस्ट बढ़ रही हैं। सरकार की नीतियॉ असफल साबित हो रही है। यही नही सरकार जो नीतियां बना रही है, उससे मंहगाई और भी बढ़ती जा रही है।


अब देश के लोगों ने महसूस कर लिया है कि मूल्यवृध्दि कांग्रेस की जन-विरोधी नीतियों का ही परिणाम है - चाहे वह आयात-निर्यात हो, राजकोषीय मामला हो, खाद्य स्टॉक का प्रबंधन हो तथा वायदा बाजार आदि के बारे में लिए गए निर्णय हों। थोक मूल्य सूचकांक दो अंकों में प्रवेश कर रहा है, खाद्य पदार्थों के मूल्य लगभग 16 प्रतिशत ऊंचे हो रहे हैं।


कांग्रेस ने अपने चुनावी घोषणा पत्र में यह वायदा किया था कि महज सौ दिन में ही हम महंगाई कम कर देंगे। वह महंगाई, जिसकी मार आम जनता यूपीए-I के शासनकाल के अंतिम वर्षों में झेल रही थी। यूपीए-II के शासन के सौ दिन पूरे हुए और महंगाई कम होने की बजाय कई गुना बढ़ गई। एक वर्ष पूरे होने के पश्चात् भी महंगाई की रफ्तार घटने के बजाय बढ़ती ही चली गई।


आश्चर्य है - एक अर्थशास्त्री प्रधानमंत्री के शासनकाल में मंहगाई बेलगाम बढ रही है और प्रधानमंत्री महोदय इस विषय पर कुछ भी कर पाने में असफल साबित हो रहे हैं।


भाजपा मांग करती हे कि प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह देश की जनता को बताएं कि आखिर इस बढती हुई मंहगाई को रोकने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री व सरकार कौन कौन से कदम उठा रही हैं। या यह सब आश्वासन महज एक भुलावा है।

Friday, July 16, 2010

Press statement issued by BJP National Vice President, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Bhartiya Janata Party’s National Vice - President Shri Mukthar Abbas Naqvi cautioned the Congress Party to desist from shedding “AFZALI TEARS” (Afzali Aansu) on terrorism.

Sh. Naqvi added that entire country is irked on the weak policy and attitude of the Congress Party and the UPA government led by it towards terrorism, separatism and Naxalism. Moreover, the Congress Party is promoting terrorism in stead of crushing it.

Shri Naqvi observed that Congress wants all political parties and leaders of the country should keep mum on terrorism like its president Smt. Sonia Gandi and its crown-prince Shri Rahul Gandhi. That is why the Congress Party opens new front against each leader who opposes terrorism.


Shri Naqvi observed that country’s Muslims don’t hold terrorist Afzal Guru and Osama Bin Laden as their icon, but the Congress Party attempts to divert the attention of the people from real terrorism by turning the terrorism as “Hindu – Muslim terrorism”.

Five posers from the Congress Party

1.Why the report of the Congress Government does say that the law and order situation of the country can worsen on putting Afzal Guru at gallows?


2.Why the Congress Party is shedding all-round “Afzali tears” on its complete failures on terrorism, separatism and Naxalism?


3.Why the Congress Party is attempting to divert the attention of the people from real terrorism by terming terrorism as “Hindu-Muslim terrorism?


4.Why the Congress Party wants the BJP to keep mum on terrorism, separatism and Naxalism like Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi?


5.Why the Congress Party is abusing the patriotism of crores of Muslims by branding voices against terrorism as “voices against Muslims”?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

BJP Condemns Ranganath Misra Commission Report

The Ranganath Misra Commission Report: A tool for vote bank politics
The Ranganath Misra Report is not unanimous.
The report recommends, amongst other things, 15 per cent reservation to minorities in education,Central and State Government jobs and social welfare schemes in the OBC quota. Out of 15 per cent,the report recommends 10 per cent to Muslims and remaining 5 per cent to other minorities. It alsorecommends the inclusion of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in the list of Scheduled Castes. However,Smt Asha Das, its Member Secretary has submitted her dissenting opinion opposing the inclusion of DalitChristians and Dalit Muslims in the category of Scheduled Castes.At present all minorities including the so called Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians are entitled toreservation of 8.4 per cent out of 27 per cent reservation meant for OBC. If the reservation percentagefor minorities is increased from 8.4 per cent to 15 per cent, then the share for OBC will be reduced to 12 percent only, thus causing injustice, humiliation and social disharmony to OBC, whose population is estimated at52 per cent as per the Mandal Commission Report.The reservation percentage based on population is permissible under the Constitution only to the ScheduledCastes and Scheduled Tribes (15 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively) and to no other section of thesociety.
It may be difficult to fault the rationale adopted during British rule, and continued after Independence,behind identification of depressed classes/scheduled castes on the basis of untouchability relateddisabilities which were peculiar to the Hindu society, arising from a highly rigid caste system. The ScheduledCastes Order of 1936 was based on "caste" and its application to the Hindu religion is apparent from the factthat paragraph 3 of the Order issued on April 30, 1936 provides clearly that "No Indian Christian shall bedeemed to be member of a Scheduled Caste". The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 was basedon the Constitution (SC) Order of 1936 and adopted the same criteria for identification of castes i.e. practicesand prejudices arising from untouchability that had plagued Hindu society for centuries and had resulted inthe social, educational and economic backwardness of the castes enlisted. The 1956 and 1990 amendmentsto the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 have been justified on the ground that the Sikh and theBuddhist religions were primarily home-grown sects within the Hindu religion rather than being independentreligions in the nature of Christianity or Islam . Besides they draw support form explanation II belowArticle 25 of the Constitution which provides that reference to Hindu in Sub-clause (b) of clause (2) ofArticle 25 shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jain orBuddhist religion.
The Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order 1950 enlist those castes, identified on the criteria of extreme formof social, economic and educational backwardness arising due to age-old practice of untouchability becauseof caste system, an inherent feature of Hindus social structure. This is in conformity with the Provisions of1/3 Article 341 of the Constitution. This also get support from the debated in the Constituent Assembly whichrecognised that "the Scheduled Castes were a backward section of the society, handicapped by the practiceof untouchability and that this evil practice of untouchability was not recognised by any other religion". Theobservation of the Commission that the caste system in India prevails in all religions irrespective of the Islamand Christianity claiming otherwise. This view, being illogical, is unacceptable. These two religions proclaimtheir social structure free from caste system, untouchability and caste-based discrimination. The RanganathMisra Commission cannot dictate or thrust its opinion on the Christian Popes or Muslim Maulavis.If the Government decides to grant Scheduled Caste status to the converts, it will amount to formalintroduction of caste system in Islam/Christianity and thus changing the basic tenets of these religions, whichis outside the jurisdiction of both the Parliament and the Judiciary and also contrary to the provisions ofQuran and Bible. According to the Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) and Indian ChristianRighteous Action Forum (ICRA) leaders Shri RL Francis and Shri Joseph G Anthony the report is a "Pill worstthan disease" and the reservation based on religion is not only unconstitutional, it would also create badblood between minorities and the Hindu Dalits and OBCs. They further added that "PCLM and ICRA Forum,an independent body of Christians, opposes the Ranganath Misra Report and have urged theGovernment of Dr Manmohan Singh to ignore its recommendations. "
Even though those who profess Christianity or Islam were never treated as Scheduled Castes in British Indiaor in India after Independence, efforts have been made from time to time to seek conferment of ScheduledCaste status on persons of Scheduled Caste origin professing Christianity. Private Members Bill had beenmoved more than once. The National Convention of the Parliamentary Forum of the ScheduledCastes/Scheduled Tribes in 1992 also passed a resolution for extending reservation facility to persons ofScheduled Caste origin to Christianity. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 (Amendment Bill)was also prepared in 1996 though never introduced. The views of the various Central Ministers/Departmentsand State Governments were obtained in this regard. They drew attention to the debate of the ConstituentAssembly and pointed out the difficulty for determining the precise number of persons who would be covered.The absence of any suggestion on the cut-off date for determining who would benefit was also pointed out. Itwas also mentioned by several states and commissions that there was no justification for includingScheduled Caste converts to Christianity in the list of Scheduled Castes. There would be enormousdifficulty in identification of the original cast in the absence of authentic records.There is a ceiling on the reservation percentage fixed by the Supreme Court at 50 per cent. Thereservation percentage at national level has been earmarked, on the basis of 1961 census, 15 per cent to theScheduled Castes 7.5 per to the Scheduled Tribes and 27 per cent to the OBC. The total comes to 49.5 percent which is nearer to 50 per cent. Those who plead reservation to the converts outside 15 per cent quotameant for the Scheduled Castes, are not possibly aware of the 50 per cent ceiling.