SURAT, July 1: Preparing for the worst, the BJP has asked its workers to set up `Rashtra Raksha Samitis' in Kutch and Banaskantha -- two border districts of Gujarat -- to get ready for any eventuality, party National vice-president and State in-charge Sumitra Mahajan said here today.Talking to reporters, Mahajan said, ``We apprehend that Pakistan may open a new front in Gujarat, after its defeat in Kargil and Drass. And a defeated Pakistan can do any thing. Hence it is necessary that the people living in border areas be mentally prepared for a war.''
Mahajan, who was here to review preparations for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, said the party will organise `Atal Sandesh Yatra' from July 10 to highlight the government's achievements.
Claiming that the BJP will win all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, she said ``One of the biggest achievements of BJP-led government is that the entire world is today supporting India, while it has isolated Pakistan. Yet, certain political parties claim that the BJP-led government's foreign policy had failed.''
Without naming Sonia Gandhi, Mahajan criticised the Congress president for what she called ``criticising the BJP for the sake of criticism''. Kargil, she said, had become an emotional and national issue. So it was time for people to express their solidarity with jawans who were fighting to evict enemies from India, she said, adding that it was in this hour of national crisis that all political parties be united and sink their differences. ``However certain political parties behave in a manner which is affecting the morale of our jawans. We know who is responsible for the Kashmir problem. But it is not right time to debate such issue,'' she said.
Replying to a question, Mahajan said the government might consider imposing emergency if such a situation arises. But the emergency would be different from what the people have known, she added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.