The first day of the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive was marked by a high dose of pep talk and a lot of untruths on crucial economic and political issues.
Muscle-flexing by allies, particularly the Samata party and Defence Minister George Fernandes, prompted the national executive to adopt a resolution that "deplored" the US attack on Iraq.
The resolution called for an early resumption of the peace process and urged the international community to end its "double standards" in dealing with international terrorism.
Though the government was initially reluctant to adopt a resolution on the Iraq war, Fernandes is reported to have made it clear to BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu last night that his party would ask for a resolution against the US in Parliament.
In his inaugural address, Naidu, however, said the government's foreign policy would be guided by "national interest".
The anti-US resolution has been cleverly drafted to highlight Pakistan's role in fomenting trouble in India and the international community's apathy towards the issue.
The eight-page address by Naidu was a severe indictment of the Congress, accusing them of indulging in "spit and run" tactics in Parliament. Naidu also blamed the Opposition for adopting "double standards" on economic reforms.
He praised Finance Minister Jaswant Singh for rolling back fertiliser prices at the request of the party and congratulated the government for its "effective drought management".
While avoiding the high-sounding Hindutva rhetoric, the BJP president suggested a special package for Kashmiri pandits, scrapping of the IMDT Act, and facilitating laws against cow slaughter to demonstrate his allegiance to the Sangh Parivar.
The party leadership also promised to come down heavily on indisciplined members. Sources in the BJP said the executive would adopt a political resolution that may include certain economic issues.
