In the reshuffle of the Union Cabinet yesterday, a new ministry Minority Affairs has been created with the Cabinet Minister in charge of the same. As far as we recall, it is for the first time that such a separate ministry has been created. Though we do recognise the right of the Govt. to constitute a ministry but it seems rather curious and surprising that during the long tenure of various Congress Prime Ministers like Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narsimha Rao, such a ministry did not exist. Should we presume then that their secular credentials were less impeccable or that they were not concerned with minority development? The BJP feels that every attempt be made to ensure the economic and educational development of the minorities and bring them into the national main stream. However, the present decision has less to do with genuine welfare and taken primarily in pursuit of vote bank politics. This is quite in line with various attempts like reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh and the decision to give minority status to the AMU, which have met with repeated judicial disapproval. The BJP is equally apprehensive over the move to revive the IMDT in some other form in view of the ensuing assembly elections in Assam, even though the said legislation has been held to be grossly unconstitutional by the apex court.
The full text of the interview of the US Ambassador Devid C Mulford is now too well known. This raises further disturbing questions and puts into serious doubt the solemned assurance the Prime Minister gave on the floor of the Parliament on 29th July 2005 where in he assured the House that "Our commitment would be conditional upon and reciprocal to the US fulfilling its side of the understanding". He further emphasized that separation of civilian and military nuclear facilities would be in a "phased manner" and that civilian nuclear facilities would be placed under IAEA safeguards by a decision taken "voluntarily". The full text of Mr. Mulford statement; which is not a casual observation at all completely negates this assurance. He has clearly said the idea of separating these two establishments "civilian and military" has not so far made the "test" of credibility and minimum standard required for US Congress to act favourably. This is very disturbing because it is no more "voluntarily" and "reciprocal" to the US fulfilling its side of obligation. Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his statement of July 20th, 2005 has clearly warned that the offer of separation has long term national security implications and with every passing day increasing evidence is coming as to the extent to the which our strategic security initiative may came under cloud. The BJP is firmly committed to the sovereign right of India to take a decision on issues of national security independently and without any references to any outside agency or Country. We expect the Prime Minister to take all the political parties into confidence and ensure that our strategic security concerns are not subjugated in any manner whatsoever.
The full text of the interview of the US Ambassador Devid C Mulford is now too well known. This raises further disturbing questions and puts into serious doubt the solemned assurance the Prime Minister gave on the floor of the Parliament on 29th July 2005 where in he assured the House that "Our commitment would be conditional upon and reciprocal to the US fulfilling its side of the understanding". He further emphasized that separation of civilian and military nuclear facilities would be in a "phased manner" and that civilian nuclear facilities would be placed under IAEA safeguards by a decision taken "voluntarily". The full text of Mr. Mulford statement; which is not a casual observation at all completely negates this assurance. He has clearly said the idea of separating these two establishments "civilian and military" has not so far made the "test" of credibility and minimum standard required for US Congress to act favourably. This is very disturbing because it is no more "voluntarily" and "reciprocal" to the US fulfilling its side of obligation. Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his statement of July 20th, 2005 has clearly warned that the offer of separation has long term national security implications and with every passing day increasing evidence is coming as to the extent to the which our strategic security initiative may came under cloud. The BJP is firmly committed to the sovereign right of India to take a decision on issues of national security independently and without any references to any outside agency or Country. We expect the Prime Minister to take all the political parties into confidence and ensure that our strategic security concerns are not subjugated in any manner whatsoever.
( Shyam Jaju )
Office Secretary
Office Secretary
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