It Happens Only in India!?
August 31, 1999 - 0:0
Part 3 ---"To be very frank, votes are not Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Christians," Ms. Tahera said, adding that the votes are the national duty which should be performed honestly. She further said, "The past experience requires the Indians to cast votes for the BJP, as it is the only party which, unlike Congress, presented a clean administration, which should be a top priority for a country such as India." "Don't forget, India has been slated to be one of the major powers of the world because of its rapid pace of economic growth," Ms. Tahera said.
The BJP is not what many thought before it came into power in March last year, she said. Vajpayee knows Muslims' sensitivities on certain issues, she said and recalled that Vajpayee said on Friday that his government will not rebuild the temple of the Hindu God Ram on a site also claimed by Muslims. In 1992, fanatics razed the Babri Mosque - they said it was built by Mogul invaders who tore down a Hindu temple - and set off nationwide communal riots that killed 2,000 people.
Since then, Vajpayee's BJP has vowed to rebuild the temple only if the Supreme Court settles the case over the property. According to Indian television network Doordarshan, Vajpayee, while visiting Lucknow, told a news conference on Friday that even if his party wins the elections - polls indicate no party will again win enough seats to form a government on its own - the BJP will refrain from constructing the temple.
The BJP is hoping to once again deny the main opposition Congress Party victory in the elections. Congress governed the country for nearly four decades since independence in 1947. Early opinion polls show that more people favor Vajpayee for prime minister than his rival, Sonia of the Congress. Low- and Middle-level leaders of the BJP have focussed on Sonia's foreign birth, saying several countries including Italy, Iran and the United States allow only natural born citizens to run for the highest office.
But Vajpayee remained noncommittal on the issue, as many believe that India's ancient culture and civilization has always welcomed foreigners, treating them as its own countrymen. It Happens Only in India. (Concluded)
The BJP is not what many thought before it came into power in March last year, she said. Vajpayee knows Muslims' sensitivities on certain issues, she said and recalled that Vajpayee said on Friday that his government will not rebuild the temple of the Hindu God Ram on a site also claimed by Muslims. In 1992, fanatics razed the Babri Mosque - they said it was built by Mogul invaders who tore down a Hindu temple - and set off nationwide communal riots that killed 2,000 people.
Since then, Vajpayee's BJP has vowed to rebuild the temple only if the Supreme Court settles the case over the property. According to Indian television network Doordarshan, Vajpayee, while visiting Lucknow, told a news conference on Friday that even if his party wins the elections - polls indicate no party will again win enough seats to form a government on its own - the BJP will refrain from constructing the temple.
The BJP is hoping to once again deny the main opposition Congress Party victory in the elections. Congress governed the country for nearly four decades since independence in 1947. Early opinion polls show that more people favor Vajpayee for prime minister than his rival, Sonia of the Congress. Low- and Middle-level leaders of the BJP have focussed on Sonia's foreign birth, saying several countries including Italy, Iran and the United States allow only natural born citizens to run for the highest office.
But Vajpayee remained noncommittal on the issue, as many believe that India's ancient culture and civilization has always welcomed foreigners, treating them as its own countrymen. It Happens Only in India. (Concluded)