BJP's open manifesto closed to Ram Temple talks

NEW DELHI: BJP has opened a website to invite suggestions for its manifesto for 2014, but the party made it clear that pet issues like the Ram Temple, uniform civil code and Article 370 were non-negotiable.

The website -- bjpelectionmanifesto. com -- with images of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, party president Rajnath Singh and chairman of the manifesto committee Murli Manohar Joshi, enables visitors to give suggestions on a range of categories including economy, internal security, social issues and foreign affairs.

“It was decided that based on earlier manifestos we should interact with all sectors before finalising our manifesto for 2014,” Joshi said in New Delhi on Friday.

Joshi said the party would consider an “overwhelming response” on any issue in its earlier manifesto. “We are a democratic party.” However, the party would stick to its stand when it comes to promises made in 2009 on the Ram Temple, uniform civil code, Ram Setu, cow protection and Article 370.

“We want a temple to be constructed at the Ram Janmabhoomi. Our views on this are non-negotiable,” Joshi said. In the 2009 manifesto, BJP had pledged to explore all possibilities to facilitate the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

He also said the party will retain its position in the earlier manifesto on abrogation of Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. BJP’s 2009 manifesto said, “Article 370 poses a psychological barrier for the full integration of the people of Jammu & Kashmir with the national mainstream. BJP remains committed to the abrogation of this Article.”

On Ram Setu, it said, “Saving Rama Setu is to save the vast thorium deposits which are the future source of our energy. Thorium technology will ensure India’s energy security. BJP will, therefore, look for an alternative alignment for the proposed Sethu-Samudram Project.”