NEW DELHI, January 22: The Samata Party today voiced sharp differences against ally Bharatiya Janata Party on the issue of Babri Masjid demolition, calling it a "great tragedy". It opposed suggestions of an "Ayodhya type" solution in Mathura and Kashi."Any suggestion that Ayodhya can be made a precedent at other places like Mathura and Kashi has to be unequivocally rejected and deplored," said the party's 30-page election manifesto released today by party president George Fernandes. It was recently that another BJP ally, the Shiv Sena, took a controversial stand on the temple issue when its chief Bal Thackeray declared that he preferred a national monument on the contentious Ayodhya site. Samata, in consistency with the strong statement by Fernandes last week that the alliance with the BJP was only a poll "tie-up", favoured an acceptance of court verdict as the best course open in Ayodhya.
Also, the party, which had recently opposed BJP's line of thinking on issues like abrogation of Article 370 of the
Constitution, and Uniform Civil Code, said it would wage a relentless campaign to instill in every Indian the spirit of tolerance and brotherhood.
The political leadership should encourage an amicable solution to all outstanding communal issues in a manner acceptable to both Hindu and Muslim communities, the manifesto maintained.
Significantly, the manifesto said it would initiate steps to amend the Constitution to prevent persons who are not natural-born Indians from occupying the posts of President, Vice-President and Prime Minister.
It also favoured a fix tenure for Parliament to avoid situations where the country is forced into frequent mid-term polls.
Eradication of corruption at all levels and autonomy to investigative agencies without any executive interference were some of the other things that the party pledged.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
