Get ready for snap polls: Gadkari

Surajkund (Haryana), September 26: With Trinamool Congress walking out of the ruling UPA and NCP threatening to follow suit, BJP top brass on Wednesday asked party leaders to stand united and remain battle-ready as the prospects of early polls loom large in the current political scenario.

In his inaugural address at BJP national executive here, party president Nitin Gadkari asked his party to prepare for polls as the Congress-led UPA government is a “sinking ship” and the people have lost all love for it.

“The national President conveyed in his speech the uncertain current political scenario...He said the nation is on the verge of change. Elections can be held anytime,” BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

Significantly, Mr. Gadkari asked his party leaders to show “large-heartedness, be united and make all efforts to meet the target (of coming to power)“.

The main opposition party has several senior leaders vying to become BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

“Gadkari discussed the current political scenario. This government is in the state of uncertainty. If the government falls of its own, BJP will not come to save this government,” Mr. Prasad said.

Asked if the BJP is ready to face polls, Mr. Prasad asserted, “BJP is ready for polls. If polls are held within one month, we are ready.”

Mr. Prasad said in view of the current situation the BJP president asked partymen to motivate themselves together towards the “big goal” of coming up to the expectations of the people, as the nation was “standing on the verge of change“.

Mr. Gadkari appealed to all partymen to strengthen the party and stand united in a bid to achieve the goal of wresting power from the UPA. The BJP president termed Congress as a “sinking ship“.

Replying to a media poser on the crisis in Maharashtra where NCP ministers have quit the government, Mr. Prasad said, “Since the UPA government is a sinking ship led by the Congress party, most of the allies are seeking avenues to leave the government and therefore we see the repeated spell of uncertainty.”

“BJP’s job is not to protect the Congress government, which is falling by itself,” he added.

BJP alleged that there has been an “institutionalisation of corruption” in the UPA government along with subversion of democratic and constitutional institutions like the PAC and the JPC.

“UPA has also done marketisation of coalition politics. Every coalition partner is subjected to a price mechanism,” Mr. Prasad said.

Claiming that BJP states were “better” ruled, he said, “BJP does not need a Congress certificate for good governance“.

On the Prime Minister’s remarks reminding the nation of the 1991 economic crisis, Prasad said the BJP-run states were doing well, recording higher growth even in such a negative scenario.

Mr. Prasad said Mr. Gadkari reminded the party cadre of “Good governance” during the Vajpayee-led NDA government where he used the “mantra of economics, environment, ecology and ethics“.

“Economic management giving due importance to ecology, environment and ethical considerations and this sums up good governance,” he said, adding that, “BJP has proved its record of governance, reform, pro-people policies and equitable growth.

Seeking to rope in more allies in the NDA in the coming times, he lashed out at the Congress for using CBI as an “instrument of Congress ally management“.

On the Congress President’s allegation that BJP was spreading canards, the BJP spokesperson said, “We reject it with contempt”.

'Will scrap FDI if voted to power'

Seeking to put at rest speculation on its stand on FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP on Wednesday said it is opposed to the proposal in toto and indicated that it will scrap the policy if the NDA comes to power.

Amid reports that Shiromani Akali Dal President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who is a key NDA ally, has softened his stand on FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP on Wednesday said it is opposed to the proposal completely as it is against the interest of the farming community.

The principal opposition party clarified that it is not a question of the quantum of FDI to be allowed and the party is fully against it.

Party president Nitin Gadkari elaborated on this point in his inaugural address at the BJP’s National Executive Meet here.

“We are opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail and once we come to power, the consequences will follow,” BJP chief Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, indicating that the NDA will do away with the policy even if the UPA government implements it.

Asked about the agenda for good governance released by BJP before the 2004 general elections which said the party favours 26 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, Mr. Prasad said.

“Leave it to us. 2004 is eight years ago. Wait for our manifesto. Mr. Gadkari categorically opposed FDI in multi-brand retail.”

The Union Cabinet had approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and the government has stated firmly that there will be no rollback of the proposal despite ally TMC withdrawing support to the UPA regime.

Mr. Badal was quoted as saying in the media that had the government not forced reforms on it and acted like a “dictator”, the party may have welcomed FDI in multi-brand retail.

Asked about Mr. Badal’s comments, Mr. Prasad said, “We keep talking to Sukhbir Badal and have held discussions with him on this issue also. There is no difference (of opinion between us) at all.”

“BJP is of the firm view that FDI in multi-brand retail is not in the interest of India and that is the view of NDA as well,” he added.

Earlier, in his speech Mr. Gadkari had maintained that FDI in multi-brand retail in not good for the farming community and India’s retail chain.

BJP insisted that it is not against reforms and is proud of its “record of governance, reforms, pro-people policies and equitable growth”.

The party pointed out that there are several hurdles in the implementation of the UPA decision on FDI in multi-brand retail, saying India is a signatory to bilateral agreements with 82 countries where it cannot stop foreign multinationals from entering certain states if it is allowing domestic companies to set up shop.

BJP said the Kerala High Court verdict, which said FDI in multi-brand retail cannot be allowed, will also have to be respected. All the BJP and NDA ruled states are opposed to the policy.