09-09-2006, 12:53 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Advani raps Sonia, PMÂ </b>
Pioneer.com
<i>Rajeev Ranjan Roy | Dehradun
'Those who cannot defend sacred legacy are unfit to be rulers'</i>
In a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for skipping the Congress function for singing of Vande Matram, Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha LK on Friday said that <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>"Those who cannot with conviction defend the sacred legacy of our national movement are unfit to be India's rulers."</span>
<b>"Television viewers say on Thursday many inspiring scenes from all parts of the country showing people enthusiastically singing the national song. However, the nation also noted the conspicuous absence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from these Vande Mataram programmes," </b>Advani said in his address to the BJP's national executive meeting.Â
"It just shows how the Congress Party and its Government simply wilted under a completely baseless - indeed dangerous - assault on the national song. Those who cannot with conviction defend the sacred legacy of our national movement are unfit to be India's rulers," Advani said. Asserting that the BJP's spirited protest both inside and outside Parliament won two important victories for India's democracy and national security in recent months, Advani said the BJP played the role of a constructive opposition by advising the Government not to rush with a flawed Office of Profit Bill.
"The UPA Government averted a bigger crisis only by finally doing what the BJP had earlier advised. It has announced setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to consider the comprehensive points made by the President in his advice to the Government," he added.
Referring to the BJP's stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Advani said the BJP must continue to be vigilant on this issue. "As you know, the legislative process in the US on this matter is not yet over. We should keep a watch on what happens in the coming months. In no case shall we sit quiet if the ultimate deal in any way compromises India's sovereignty or our strategic defence interests," he added.
"The Prime Minister was forced to make a detailed statement on the Indo-US nuclear deal, which is a substantial comedown from the Government's earlier stand on the matter. He was also forced to address many of the concerns raised by the BJP and the nuclear scientists," he said, adding that the party should bring a booklet containing his articles along with other useful material on the Indo-US deal in different languages for circulation among the workers and the people at large.
Advani, who later addressed a mammoth public rally, called Parivartan Rally, at the city's Parade Ground, said the BJP has done many historical works for the nation. "From saving democracy to fighting against corruption, the BJP has successfully made the nation's unity and integrity the agenda of the country's politics," Advani said.
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president Rajnath Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and a host of senior leaders addressed the rally.
</span>
Taking potshot at the UPA Government in his national executive address for resorting to unconstitutional acts, Advani said: "I do not recall any other Government in the past having invited in such a short time so many severe admonitions from the country's highest judiciary as this Government has done."
<b>"Shortly after assuming office, this Government announced reservations on religious grounds, first in Andhra Pradesh Government and later in the Aligarh Muslim University. The court struck down both the decisions. The constitutionality of the IMDT Act relating to Assam has been challenged. The courts have repeatedly had to intervene in the Government's mismanagement of the affairs of All India Institute of Medical Sciences,"</b> he said.
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Pioneer.com
<i>Rajeev Ranjan Roy | Dehradun
'Those who cannot defend sacred legacy are unfit to be rulers'</i>
In a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for skipping the Congress function for singing of Vande Matram, Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha LK on Friday said that <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>"Those who cannot with conviction defend the sacred legacy of our national movement are unfit to be India's rulers."</span>
<b>"Television viewers say on Thursday many inspiring scenes from all parts of the country showing people enthusiastically singing the national song. However, the nation also noted the conspicuous absence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from these Vande Mataram programmes," </b>Advani said in his address to the BJP's national executive meeting.Â
"It just shows how the Congress Party and its Government simply wilted under a completely baseless - indeed dangerous - assault on the national song. Those who cannot with conviction defend the sacred legacy of our national movement are unfit to be India's rulers," Advani said. Asserting that the BJP's spirited protest both inside and outside Parliament won two important victories for India's democracy and national security in recent months, Advani said the BJP played the role of a constructive opposition by advising the Government not to rush with a flawed Office of Profit Bill.
"The UPA Government averted a bigger crisis only by finally doing what the BJP had earlier advised. It has announced setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to consider the comprehensive points made by the President in his advice to the Government," he added.
Referring to the BJP's stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Advani said the BJP must continue to be vigilant on this issue. "As you know, the legislative process in the US on this matter is not yet over. We should keep a watch on what happens in the coming months. In no case shall we sit quiet if the ultimate deal in any way compromises India's sovereignty or our strategic defence interests," he added.
"The Prime Minister was forced to make a detailed statement on the Indo-US nuclear deal, which is a substantial comedown from the Government's earlier stand on the matter. He was also forced to address many of the concerns raised by the BJP and the nuclear scientists," he said, adding that the party should bring a booklet containing his articles along with other useful material on the Indo-US deal in different languages for circulation among the workers and the people at large.
Advani, who later addressed a mammoth public rally, called Parivartan Rally, at the city's Parade Ground, said the BJP has done many historical works for the nation. "From saving democracy to fighting against corruption, the BJP has successfully made the nation's unity and integrity the agenda of the country's politics," Advani said.
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president Rajnath Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and a host of senior leaders addressed the rally.
</span>
Taking potshot at the UPA Government in his national executive address for resorting to unconstitutional acts, Advani said: "I do not recall any other Government in the past having invited in such a short time so many severe admonitions from the country's highest judiciary as this Government has done."
<b>"Shortly after assuming office, this Government announced reservations on religious grounds, first in Andhra Pradesh Government and later in the Aligarh Muslim University. The court struck down both the decisions. The constitutionality of the IMDT Act relating to Assam has been challenged. The courts have repeatedly had to intervene in the Government's mismanagement of the affairs of All India Institute of Medical Sciences,"</b> he said.
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