Bharat Suraksha Yatra is now over. During the yatra Leader of Opposition Shri L.K. Advani and the BJP President, Shri Rajnath Singh attracted massive crowd and got spontaneous response on a number of issues. People were eager to listen to them on various issues that are confronting the national mind. Both the BJP veterans received great love and affection from the people on the way. The 78-year old Advaniji got tremendous response even with the throat trouble caused by the scorching heat, not stopping him from addressing an average 15-18 public meetings a day. Shri Advani had commenced his 35-day long yatra from Rajkot in Gujarat on April 6 with an appeal to the Muslims to abandon their claim over the disputed site in Ayodhya and help in the construction of a grand Ram temple there.
Shri Advani was presented with a bow and an arrow before the rath rolled out.
BJP volunteers were all wearing saffron to add colour to the function. Even school children were present in large number.
Shri Advani said that the future of the youth of this country is not safe in the hands of a government which is involved in ?minorityism? and hell bent upon destroying even a fine institution like the armed forces of the country.
The former BJP President said that he was forced to take out the yatra mainly because of two important developments that shook him up. The first one related to the Justice Sachar Committee'swork to have a Muslim headcount done in the Armed Forces, which met with fierce opposition even from the three chiefs of Indian defence force?the Army, Navy and Air Force. The second incident came after the Congress and Communists who are partners at the Centre but were rivals fighting each other in the current Assembly elections, passed a resolution in the Kerala Assembly for releasing Madani, the prime accused in the Coimbatore serial blasts on parole. Shri Advani further said that even the sub-committee under the chairmanship of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel comprising Pandit Nehru and Dr B.R. Ambedkar set up immediately after the Partition of the country had opposed doling out reservations on religious lines, but this UPA Government is continuing with its policies of minority appeasement. The Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh announced reservations for Muslims in the State but it was struck down by the High Court. The party'sdecision to accord reservation in the Aligarh Muslim University too was quashed by the High Court but it did not stop its policies of minority appeasement, the BJP leader said.
Shri Advani regretted that since the advent of UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in the Andhra Pradesh headed by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy in May 2004, has witnessed a big spurt in the activities of various evangelical organisations engaged in religious conversions in a systematic manner with a missionary zeal through inducements and coercive pressure.
In a statement issued at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh on April 17, Shri Advani said such activities acquire an extra edge of ominousness when they are facilitated by foreign-funded organisation, ostensibly under the garb of social service for the poor and underprivileged families in society. He further said that he strongly condemn this campaign of proselytisation which poses a grave threat to the Hindu society, at the same time, undermining national integration and social harmony between various communities.
At all the places en route he was given a rousing reception by the people. Welcome arches greeted him at almost every village. Flowers were showered on him. He was overwhelmed with garlands. People appreciated the cause for which the yatra had been undertaken. People'spresence in large numbers gave an indication of the affinity the public had developed with the causes for which the BJP is fighting.
In Ranchi, Shri Rajnath Singh, pleaded for a national policy to curb Naxalism. BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh has asked the Central government to rise above party politics and formulate a national policy to combat the growing threat of Naxalism in the country. He cautioned the government if this was not done soon it would lead to a major threat to national security and result in the collapse of the law and order situation in the country.
In Gaya (Bihar), Shri Rajnath Singh said Bangladesh is the epicenter of terrorism. ?Nearly 200 terrorist camps are functioning in Bangladesh with the active backing from the ISI,? he said demanding dismantling of Bangladeshi terrorist modules.
In Patna, Shri Rajnath Singh urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to set up a national level committee to frame a Common Civil Code.
At every village both the yatras were given a traditional welcome with aarti, kumkum, garlands and showers of flowers even in the sizzling temperature of high noon. The roads which normally remain deserted were spilling over with men and women eager to have a glimpse of their nayak. On an average 2,000 to 60,000 people attended different meetings. Workers at every place were encouraged and motivated. Masses were galvanished. The yatra created a positive response.
