Resolutions on Nationalism, Budget Expected at BJP Meet

The national executive this time appears set to be a low-key event, as BJP president Amit Shah has yet to announce his new team.
Resolutions on Nationalism, Budget Expected at BJP Meet

NEW DELHI: The BJP will bring two resolutions to frame its response to the current political scenario, and to extol the ‘pro-poor’ budget of the NDA government during the two-day National Executive meet set to begin on Saturday.

The political resolution to be adopted at the meeting will reflect the party’s stance, as recently articulated in Parliament. It will seek to corner the Congress and Left parties on their views over the nationalism debate triggered by the JNU episode. Sources said the resolution will touch upon the “disinformation” campaign of Congress to “defame” the Modi government with false allegations in the Ishrat Jahan case.

“The opposition, especially Congress, has been exposed in the last 20 months over a host of issues, be it returning of awards by a section of intelligentsia or JNU row where it chose to side with anti-national forces. These will come up for discussion,” a party leader said.

The national executive this time appears set to be a low-key event, as BJP president Amit Shah has yet to announce his new team. According to the party constitution, 25 per cent of the executive should be new. However, no changes have been made till now, despite speculation of a team rejig or expansion.

Elections to five state assemblies in April-May will be part of the deliberations. Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the polls early next year, where BJP’s stakes are high, may also figure. The need to inform the masses about the “pro-poor and pro-village” aspects of the budget will be stressed upon, party sources said, adding that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will be the main speaker on the issue.

The party’s office-bearers will meet on Saturday and the much-larger Executive will go into a huddle later that day. Shah will set the tone for the exercise with his inaugural address. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the valedictory session on Sunday, they said.

The event will provide the party another opportunity to project its nationalist credentials. “We believe the (JNU) issue has highlighted Congress’ increasing ideological hollowness and that it can take up any cause in its desperation to target the government,” sources said.

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