Nice to read this stuff,don't you agree? Viva Goa. Miguel
original message...... U-turn: BJP distances from Ayodhya Divya Malik Lahiri; NDTV Thursday, November 13, 2003 (New Delhi): The BJP has made it clear that it will not be using the Ayodhya tangle as a key issue in these assembly elections. None of the manifestoes for any of the states, where the BJP is pitted against the Congress, even mentions Ayodhya - surprising because the party isn't in an alliance in any of the states. "We didn't think it was necessary to include the Ayodhya issue in he manifestos," says M A Naqvi, BJP spokesperson. The party says the focus will be largely on governance and on the record of the Congress state governments. Nov 13, 2003: U-turn: BJP distances from Ayodhya Nov 13, 2003: Cong names 46 candidates for Delhi Nov 12, 2003: Khurana files nomination papers Nov 11, 2003: Poll plank: BJP banks on new faces Nov 9, 2003: RJD takes on Cong, BJP in Delhi polls But the BJP isn't giving up on Hindutva issues altogether. Conversion issues and the proposed ban on cow slaughter are still being used as a poll plank. Key issues? Although the BJP officially says it has never included its core Hindutva issues in state election manifestos, the party has been identified with these issues for several years. But in these state elections the BJP feels its development and not Hindutva, which will appeal to the voters. ''Hindutva doesn't matter in these state elections. The Delhi government will not be able to implement the uniform civil code or introduce a legislation on Ayodhya'' says V K Malhotra, BJP campaign in-charge. Party sources say that not mentioning Ayodhya in a manifesto is no guarantee that its leaders wont raise the issue when the pre-poll road show really takes off. But the fact that they have not committed themselves on paper won't be missed. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
