The government offered them many chances. The prime minister promised administrative reforms that have not begun to happen. In the war against poverty all it gave us were huge, unwieldy schemes that have delivered little at enormous cost. Under the influence of the Left’s ever dodgy economic ideas, it decided to distribute what little forests we have left to Adivasis and it put important economic reforms like privatisation and labour policy on hold. The BJP said nothing.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s road building programme has slowed down to almost snail’s pace, but from the BJP we have heard not one word of protest. Its only contribution in the infrastructure area came recently and again it was on the metaphysical plane. It has taken the lead in protesting against attempts to demolish Ram’s mythical bridge to Lanka in the hope, perhaps, that Ram will come to the rescue once more. But, even the gods cannot help a political party when it is determined to commit suicide.

The old men who control the BJP have not only failed to lead the party in any real way, they have spent an extraordinary amount of energy trying to topple their own governments in Rajasthan and Gujarat. When Vasundhara Raje was under Gurjjar siege, the BJP’s senior leaders concentrated on trying to get rid of her instead of calming the Gurjjar agitation. And, if Narendra Modi wins again in Gujarat, it will be no thanks to anyone in BJP headquarters.

... contd.