An interview with BJP president Rajnath Singh is the lead in the Organiser. Besides the BJP stand on the nuclear deal, Singh also explained the party’s relations with the Sangh: “I emphasise that the RSS and the BJP have completely harmonious relations between them. Most of us are the volunteers of the RSS... The RSS never interferes in the internal affairs of the BJP.” When asked if the RSS whole-timers are working with the BJP, he replied, “Why would they not work with us? I myself have asked the RSS for the whole-timers to work with us. In fact, we need these whole-timers of the RSS, who have a vast experience of working in society... When I took responsibility as BJP president, I asked for more whole-timers to work with the BJP. Therefore, the media reports regarding this are false and baseless.”

Regarding reports of indiscipline in the party in different states, he said, “The BJP stands by its ideological commitments, for which it was started. The media reports perhaps came, as the NDA regime was running on the basis of a common minimum programme, and not on the ideology of the BJP. Hence, the confusion was there and I think it is now clarified. There were also reports that the political strength of the BJP was decreasing day-by-day. This was also a myth, which was exploded in the elections in Punjab, Delhi, Uttarakhand, etc. ”

Myopic UPA

Organiser editor R. Balashankar sharply criticises the proposed welfare schemes for Muslims. “How myopic can the ruling class get... Does the government have no responsibility to the rest of the population? On what basis did the UPA come to the conclusion that all Christians and Muslims are poor? If there is any poor, deprived in the country, it is the Hindu. His land was taken away, his homes and temples were looted for centuries, he was made to pay jazia, an oppression tax of slavery, for almost 800 years. For that long the Muslims and for another 150 years Christians ruled this country. How can the ruling class till 1947 become deprived needing special affirmative action? It is only the Hindu who has some claim to a special treatment...”

... contd.