A confident and resurgent Shri L.K. Advani attended various programmes during his two-day visit to Kerala on April 26 and 27. It was evident that the major Christian Church Mar Thoma Sabha and the Shantigiri Ashram were inviting Shri L.K. Advani, simply because, they were confident that he was going to be the next Prime Minister of India.
Addressing a meet of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes organisations, immediately after arriving at Kochi, Shri Advani attacked the UPA regime for deviating from the Constitutional Scheme for reservation adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
?The Constitutional Scheme for reservation was on the basis of caste and now the UPA is torpedoing it, by making it religion based to include Muslims and Christians for vote-bank politics. In Kerala by giving reservation benefits to 45 lakh dalit Christians, the reservation benefits for 35 lakh Hindu SCs/STs would have to be shared with the new entrants; thereby hurting the Hindu quota?, Shri Advani said. The BJP stalwart concluded his oration saying religion-based reservation was rejected by the Constituent Assembly since it ultimately led to the Partition of Bharat.
Addressing the valedictory meet of the 90th birthday celebrations of Mar Thoma Valia Metropolitan Rev Dr. Philipose Mar Cryrsostum (a great votary of Indianisation of churches and a scholar in Hindu literature and culture), at Mammen Mappilai Hall, Kottayam, Shri Advani called for expanding and intensifying inter-faith dialogue, so that freedom of faith and cultural unity could co-exist. ?Accepting diversities and integrating them with the national culture was the unique quality of Bharat.?
Dismissing opposition by the CPM and some church groups, against his invitation to these celebrations, Shri Advani said we are not anti-Muslim or anti-Christian. ?We were expelled from Janata Party on the day of Christ'scrucifixion and we experienced political rebirth in the form of BJP on the resurrection day of Jesus. I studied in St Patricks in Karachi and Atalji was born on December 25. Moreover I have a special bonding with the Mar Thoma Church. It was the only church which came out against the Emergency and fought side by side with JP and BJS/RSS for restoration of democracy. In fact, we and the Mar Thoma Church fought the second independence movement together.?
Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas, Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church praised Advaniji for elucidating on relevance of religions, pluralism and harmonious living based on understanding and co-operation.
Addressing the media at Kovalam in Thiruvanantha-puram on April 27, Shri Advani said the CPM and Left were enjoying power without responsibility and accountability. The Left attitude is hypocritical since by propping up this crumbling UPA, it is equally responsible for bad governance, nepotism and sky-rocketing prices. This discredited UPA regime will not survive a day without Left support, he declared.
At Shantigiri Ashram
Shri Advani inaugurated the Nava Oil Jyothirdinam-9 celebrations at Shantigiri Ashram, Pothencode founded by revered Karunakara Guru Swamiji. He said the visit to Ashram was a depolluting experience, which rids one of contamination due to active participation in the field of politics. ?Although politicians, doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers etc serve the nation, the contribution of spiritual leaders and saints sustain the nation. Ashrams and saints who spread messages of love and peace, have cast indelible imprints on my mind.?
Shishya Poojita Janani Amruta Jnana Tapaswini, Guru Rethnam Jnana Tapaswi, Congress leader Peethambara Kurup and CPM MP Varkala Radhakrishnan shared the dais along with Shri Advani.
Addressing a massive Equality Protection Rally organised by the BJP and attended by a lakh of people, Shri Advani appealed to the electorate to go with the national mainstream and elect BJP representatives to the Assembly and Parliament. He said political, social and economic justice guaranteed by the Constitution meant total equality before law. ?The Constituent Assembly, which had Jawaharlal Nehru, B.R Ambedkar, Sardar Patel and Syama Prasad Mookerjee as members, had said that the day an SC/ST man converts to another religion, his benefits will cease to exist. UPA is violating Constitution by trying to give religion-based reservations and reservation benefits to converts. They tried to implement it in Andhra Pradesh, but it was struck down by High Court. Now they are plotting to implement it through Sachar Committee Report for vote-bank politics,? he concluded. BJP Kerala in-charge Shri Balbir Punj, former Union Minister, Shri O. Rajagopal, state president Shri P.K Krishnadas, Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Shri Raghavan and others accompanied Shri Advani at all the programmes.
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