Facing attack in Gujarat, the BJP on Tuesday turned the table on the Congress in Himachal Pradesh by accusing the party of a “communal and decisive” agenda, which, it claimed, has put national security in danger.

BJP president Rajnath Singh, who was in Shimla to campaign for the party, pitched for Muslim reservation on the basis of economic status. He also criticised the Congress for its “appeasement policy” and for treating Muslims as a vote-bank in the country.

Former prime minister and party leader Atal Behari Vajpayee also issued a message seeking popular mandate for his party for the December 19 Himachal Pradesh election. The former Prime Minister, who has been unable to campaign because of ill health, asked the electorate to vote for the BJP to take the state “again on the path of fast-paced development”. Vajpayee has been silent on Gujarat, where his party is trying hard to retain power, apparently in an effort to distance himself from Chief Minister Narendra Modi whom he had once advised to follow ‘raj dharma’.

Singh, who warned the Government on the Ram Sethu issue, also did not fail to flaunt the Ram temple agenda. “Ram temple is an issue of national pride and when the BJP returns to power at the Centre with a clear mandate, Ram temple will be a reality. We will do everything possible, including enactment of legislation, to pave way for the construction of the temple,” he said, denying allegations that the issue is only used to win elections. “We stand by our commitment. It is very much a part of the BJP’s cultural agenda. There is no question of using the temple issue merely for elections,” he said.

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