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The K L Sharma Chat

EVERYONE: I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THESE WORDS TO MY LAST ANSWER: In 1967, the CPI and the Jana Sangh were together in the state governments of Punjab and Bihar. In 1977, the CPI-M supported the government led by MORARJI DESAI where Mr L K Advani and Mr Vajpayee were ministers in the Cabinet. Again, in 1989, the government supported by us which was led by MR V P SINGH was also supported by the Left parties. So now it is for these parties to explain their dubious approach at different occasions.

How would you rate Mr Deve Gowda as prime minister?

What are your objections to the budget?

Thanks Sharmaji for the answer about political untouchability. What steps BJP is taking to enhance it's support base in South, Where BJP is not able to muster any considerable support?

Sharmaji, what is your assessment of the situation? If a new government is formed, how long will it last?

If you come to power, will you have the same cabinet as you did the last time round?

Do you think we will have to face mid-term polls?

Sharmaji, if you wish to rule India, you must win the approval of all Indians, not Hindus alone. Could you let me know whether you have any plan to win over Muslims whom yout party, despite the presence of the odd Bakht, still views as outsiders?

Mandar: There is a difference in the approach adopted by the BJP and the UF. When the BJP and its government led by Mr Vajpayee realised that they were not in a position to prove their majority on the floor of the House, at the conclusion of the debate, Mr Vajpayee announced in the House itself, that I accept that the numbers do not favour me. Therefore, I am going to the President to tender my resigination. And after that we gracefully reconciled that we have to perform the duty of the Opposition in the House. And after that we never said, that we are again staking our claim to form the government. Even now, we are saying that we will stake our claim only if we are convinced of our majority. But the UF is behaving in a different way, when its government lost the motion of confidence on the floor of the House on 11th of this month. They should have announced categorically that we are not going to stake our claim for forming the government. So this is the difference which the BJP and UF have demonstrated.

Sharmaji, If elections are annouced, will BJP go for pre-poll alliances with regional parties in south and east with seat adjustments, or will like to face elections on it's own?

Good evening, Sharmaji. For the BJP to truely live up to its ideals should it not distance itself from the marked distaste for dissent or for alternate viewpoints shown frequently by an ally like the Shiv Sena ?

Sharmaji,the Left supported the Janata Party government in 1977 because the Jana Sangh submerged its identity with the Janata Party. The Jana Sangh no longer existed. I know you people are very good at your selective interp[reation of history. Please be sure that there are other people in this Chat room who have some knowledge of history.

Thank you, Mr Sharma. What are your objections to the budget?

Altaf Hussain: WE are quite aware that if BJP has to rule India, it will have to muster the confidence of all sections of the people. But at the same time, the BJP is of the firm view that we are not inclined to treat any section of the society as a vote bank. And instead of working for their welfare, upliftment and giving them the equal place in a democratic set up we are also not inclined to appease some people for the sake of seeking their votes. There is lot of debate in India at present on the issue of secularism. Unfortunately, secularism has not been defined in clear cut words, even in the Constitution of India. The BJP's definition of secularism is: It should be justice for all, but appeasement to none. With this definition we are confident that we will ultimately win the confidence of the minority in spite of the negative propaganda against the BJP or creating a scare to corner the votes of the minorities by some political parties.

Do you think we will have to face mid-term polls?

Mr. Sharma, in the present scenario where the country has a lot of things going for it economically, does it make sense that politicians wrangle over power in stead of keeping the best interests of the nation in mind ? Why does the BJP have a 'holier than thou' attitude in this context?

If you come to power, will you have the same cabinet as you did the last time round?

Thank you, Mr Sharma. What are your objections to the budget? Don't you think objecting to this budget will makae you lose some precious votes in the fast-approaching polls?

Sharmaji If BJP does not get clear majority in LS after election, are you ready to join hands with regional parties ?

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Chaddiwala: The BJP is trying to give a stable government after fresh elections are held. For this purpose we already have some allies with us. We will also be trying to search for some new allies in the South. And also in the North East. And I feel that the regional parties in the South and the North East will also open their options after the failure of the present experiment. At the same time the BJP wants to go to the people with two categorical slogans: The BJP will provide political stability and adminstrative probity. Because stability and probity are the two main things for which the people of this country will be inclined to vote for.

Sharmaji, If elections are annouced, will BJP go for pre-poll alliances with regional parties in south and east with seat adjustments, or will like to face elections on it's own? What steps BJP is taking to enhance it's support base in South, Where BJP is not able to muster any considerable support?

Sharmaji, Are you there ?

Thanks for the answer Sharmaji!

Mr Sharma, thank you for your response. But various parties may have treated Muslims like vote banks, but can you honestly say that the Muslims have benefited from this so-called policy of appeasement?

Mandar: As far as the Budget is concerned the President has indicated that it should be adopted in a special session of Parliament on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of this month. Now the first thing is that this special session for the adoption of the Budget is warranted only if there is no possibility of any alternate government and Parliament is to be dissolved after passing the Budget. But notwithstanding the procedure adopted by Parliament -- whether it is to be presented in special session or in an normal session after the formation of a new government -- the BJP has strong reservations on this Budget, because the BJP feels that it is a Budget for the rich on one hand, and it does not indicate the source from which the revenue is going to come for fulfiling so many promises made in the Budget. It is an imbalanced Budget. It doesn't give a level playing to Indian industry. And it doesn't encourage small scale industry in India which is the largest employment generator. Therefore, we cannot accept this Budget in the present form and we will definitely raise our objections whenever the Budget is presented in Parliament.

Mr. Sharma: How important is money to u in ur life??

Sharmaji, Why did Shankar Singh Vaghela revolted? Is there unrest among the ranks of BJP?

Mr Sharma: Do u think politicians are relevant in India? Do u think politicians contribute (positively, I mean!) anything at all to the society?

Do you think we will have to face mid-term polls?

If you come to power, will you have the same cabinet as you did the last time round?

What do you think of Mr Deve Gowda as prime minister?

Sharmila: In the given situation, if the Congress once again extends its support to the United Front on the condition that the UF changes its leader I think it will again be a very short lived government. The mutual confidence once broken or shaken cannot be restored by some cosmetic changes. Therefore, it is the assessment of the BJP that when the parties have failed to provide a stable government they must go to the people and let the people decide. And therefore the BJP is working on the assumption that sooner or later only a mid-term poll can provide an ultimate solution to the present political crisis. The BJP is preparing to face the mid-term poll and gearing up to achieve its aim of securing a comfortable majority to form a government at the Centre. We can give a message to the people that the Congress has failed. The UF has failed. And the BJP should be given a chance. EVERYONE: It was a very nice occasion for me for having a chat on the Internet with so many friends abroad. And I think my replies will give positive food to understanding the BJP and its policies. See you some other time. Good bye and we will be meeting on some other occasion in the same manner and I will welcome your questions when I again come here. Thanks.