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October     Last updated: October 14: 7:00 p.m.

Sitting in Opposition, BJP will serve Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR : "NATURE has been very benevolent towards Chhattisgarh. It has given everything to the region—resources like diamond, coal, forest, water and also peace—all ingredients that are necessary for development and prosperity," said former BJP president Shri Kushabhau Thakare in Raipur, Madhya Pradesh. He was confident that the new state of Chhattisgarh will emerge as a prosperous state in the country. Justifying formation of three new states—Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh—Shri Thakare said that it was observed that development of these areas was not upto the mark despite their being rich in natural resources. Formation of new states will help removal of these lacunae.

He ruled out the possibility of BJP attempting to form a government in Chhattisgarh. The Congress has 48 legislators against 36 of the BJP and the BJP does not believe in sabotage. BJP will sit in opposition and cooperate with government in serving interests of the state and its people, he added. Talking about central aid to the new State of Chhattisgarh that would come into being on November 1, 2000, the BJP heavyweight said that God has been very generous to Chhattisgarh and the State should depend on its own resources and enterprise. Talking about the severe drought in Chhattisgarh region Shri Thakare said that simply making announcements and doing nothing will not help in the long run adding that it was not the first time that Chhattisgarh was facing a famine-like situation. He was sure the people of Chhattisgarh would face the difficult situation.

Assuring the party's support he urged the State government to give top priority to saving people from starvation. Shri Thakre denied any crisis in the party. Replying to questions he said Shri Govindacharya has sought a couple of years' leave to study the situation and for interospection. As regards Uma Bharati, he said that she was finding some difficulty in serving the poor through politics and she was in search of some other medium to do so. Shri Thakre said that unlike Congressmen the BJP workers were not deaf and dumb. Congress government of Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in the country and no Congressmen raised his voice against it. Things have not changed. Today, when Sonia Gandhi is Congress President the mouths of Congressmen are gagged. He reiterated that there was internal democracy in Bharatiya Janata Party. He denied that the shift of policy towards the Muslim community was appeasement in any way. He said that it was a good effort to encompass all sections of the society within the party fold. This, he said, was the right decision taken at the right time. (FOC)