Author: Kamal Kant Gouri/New Delhi
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 15, 2002
An aggressive Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday said, appeasement cannot be pursued in the name
of secularism. BJP is committed to secularism, however, it would not pursue
the policy of appeasement, Mr Vajpayee said while speaking in the BJP parliamentary
party.
Though no details of the speech
were provided, sources confirmed the Prime Minister having made the remark.
The Prime Minister also stood firm
on his Goa speech despite criticism from a section of the Opposition.
It seems he wants to convey the
message that it was time when a clear differentiation was made among liberal
Muslims and jehadi elements and that no efforts be made to defend the deeds
of the latter in the name of secularism.
Mr Vajpayee reiterated that the
country did not need lessons on secularism from others. India and its culture
have always been secular and would remain so, he said.
Suggesting that the root of the
Islamic fundamentalism was nearer home, the Prime Minister said, there
was comparative peace in West Asian countries where the predominant religion
was Islam. Temples and gurudwaras exist there, he said.
Sharing his experience, Mr Vajpayee
said that when he asked a diplomat from these countries whether he could
name a liberal Islamic group, the latter had no reply. Mr Vajpayee also
clarified the speech made in Banaras that was allegedly attributed to him.
He said that he never said that the party did not need Muslim votes.
The Prime Minister snubbed a MP,
supposedly from Rajasthan, who suggested that the party could win even
without votes of Muslims. This was not true, Mr Vajpayee said.
Summing up the Budget session as
it was the last meeting, the Prime Minister expressed happiness at the
difference of margin during debate on Gujarat under Rule 184.
Mr Vajpayee said, he was confident
of the victory during the debate. However, the margin even surprised him,
he remarked.
He said, this shows that there were
MPs in Opposition who did not want yet another election. These MPs wanted
the present Government to continue, Mr Vajpayee added.
Many MPs questioned the Finance
Minister Yashwant Sinha on Flex Industries. Mr Sinha clarified that he
has printed some material from this industry and had paid the bill through
cheque. The bills were submitted to the Election Commission after the elections,
Mr Sinha said.
The Finance Minister said, there
was nothing to hide. He exhorted the MPs not to be defensive over the issue.
Mr Sinha would be replying in Parliament on Wednesday over the issue.
