Improve image, BJP tells its ministers

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 3

The core group, comprising senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP, has asked BJP ministers in the coalition to improve their image among the masses and pursue nationalist agenda in the government to revive shattered confidence of the cadre. The core group, which was constituted a year back to review functioning of the PDP-BJP government, met today in New Delhi to discuss prevailing political situation in the state.

The core group comprised BJP’s national general secretaries Ram Lal and Ram Madhav, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, state BJP president Sat Sharma, state general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul and RSS leaders Arun Kumar, Ramesh Pappa and Parshotam Dedechi.

Although BJP leaders claimed that the meeting was a routine interaction to discuss organisational matters, it was significant in the sense that party ministers in the coalition were facing allegations of mis-deeds and corruption. Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Minister is facing criticism from the Congress for giving an “insensitive” statement during the Nagrota terror attack.

Highly placed sources said the three-hour meeting reviewed performance of the state government. “The Deputy Chief Minister briefed the core group about various steps taken by the party ministers,” the sources said, adding that he informed the meeting about steps taken by the state government to deal with the situation which emerged after elimination of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. He tried to convince the core group that state government had taken effective steps to deal anti-national forces in the state.

The sources said the core group appeared to be not satisfied with the performance of BJP ministers in the government. The group, the sources said, mentioned that some incidents had badly dented image of the party ministers in the coalition, who have failed to come up to the expectations of the people in general and party cadre in particular.

The sources said after today’s meeting, Madhav was likely to postpone his visit to Jammu. “After getting clarification from the top state leadership about recent incidents, Madhav may reschedule his visit,” the sources said.