Bhopal: Claiming that the Centre is satisfactorily tackling both the Indo-China border impasse and the Kashmir issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah Saturday said progress vis-à-vis the two concerns is in the right direction. “Our stand was presented clearly by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Parliament. Negotiations are underway on the basis of that stance. Both matters are being dealt with seriously,” Shah – on a three-day sojourn in the Madhya Pradesh capital – told media here while replying to a question. In the context of the Ram Temple issue, he averred that the saffron party has maintained its standpoint – through every manifesto since the disputed structure was brought down – that the shrine should be constructed either under the judiciary’s directive or through compromise. On Article 370 and Article 35A, Shah said no related decision was taken and any measure would be contingent on a discussion with all other parties. The matter is subjudice and the Centre would submit its view in court when asked. Responding to queries over reports that the BJP is aiming at emerging victorious in 350 parliamentary constituencies, he said, “The party has not set such a target. The goal is to strengthen the BJP even at booth level pan India. As far as the 350 figure is concerned, the party shall perform better than that.” He made it clear that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would continue irrespective of whether the BJP won more seats. Commenting on granting constitutional status to the Other Backward Classes Commission, Mr Shah said that the proposal for legislation was passed in the Lok Sabha but scuttled by “certain people” in the upper house. He assured that the Bill would be made to see the light of day. Alleging that irregularities to the tune of Rs 12 lakh crore were perpetrated during the predecessor United Progressive Alliance’s tenure, he took a dig at the Congress and other parties – albeit obliquely – by saying that the BJP is not a victim of dynasticism. “If a minister’s son becomes a legislator by dint of hard work, it is not dynastic politics. There is neither a provision for lifetime president in the BJP nor is a successor determined beforehand,” he said. The saffron party supremo said that he has heard about the Janata Dal (United)’s decision to join the NDA and welcomed it. A formal discussion is on the cards in this regard. On West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement favouring the Premier, he said – in measured syllables – that it was good if she indeed made such a statement. Scotching speculation that only party leaders aged less than 75 years would be allowed to contest elections, he said that neither such a rule nor such a tradition existed. Over the impact of a peasants’ stir in Madhya Pradesh and the Mandsaur District firing, Mr Shah alleged that a misleading campaign is being executed and pointed out that the agrarian sector recorded stupendous growth in the state. On the Professional Examination Board inconsistencies, he said that the party’s coming up trumps in several polls served as a clear pointer towards enjoying public confidence.
