STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Asserting that BJP’s stand on Article 370 is “very clear”, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said all issues which have been part of the party’s manifesto, including the provision, will be on its agenda.
“All issues (including Article 370) which have been part of the BJP manifesto all these years will be part of the agenda. They will continue to be so,” the Minister of State, PMO, told reporters while inaugurating BJP Media Centre here for its “Mission 44+”.
Singh was replying to a question if BJP has dumped the issue of Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, during the upcoming Assembly elections.
“The ideological issue (Article 370), towards which you point to, BJP’s stand is very clear on it and it is known to you,” he said.
“But in each election at each given time, you have to prioritise and you have to go by the aspiration of the people.
The aspiration of the people as of now, in 2014, in November and December, when we go to polls, is to liberate this state and people from years and years of mis-governance, corruption and misappropriation of Central funds,” Singh said.
To a question on some sitting BJP MLA resigning from party to fight against it, he said, “I do not want to indulge into a debate over it. There is inner party democracy in BJP.
It is the only party which is not governed by dynasty or family.”
“There is selection of panels and it is being approved by the Parliamentary Board. Everybody should consider himself as a contestant, but once a candidate is announced, the party and its leaders and worker forces stand by the candidate,” he said.
On a question if the party here is banking solely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said, “Across party lines, it is being accepted by one and all that Narendra Modi is the tallest leader in the country now. Can you deny him that privilege which he enjoys by virtue of his popularity. Having said that I also add that you should not underestimate the wisdom of the voter of this country –they are going to judge us by our performance,” he said.
“People vote to our governance model of government with transparency, accountability and development,” he said.
On setting up a media cell, he said, “BJP is the only party which has shown the era of high-tech media campaign.
Before the last general elections, ours used to be a high-tech media cell. A media high-tech cell was set up in BJP central office”.
“From our models, other political parties took a cue. we have been on the forefront in this media campaign,” he said.
