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THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): Which subject?

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA : This is about the atrocities. Of course, that was a Starred Question. What I want to say is that these are not mere incidents that are taking place and that they can dismiss it as a law and order situation. It has something to do with their ideology. It has something to do with the ideology of Sangh Parivar.

Since there is no time, I want to come to that aspect straightaway. I want to deal with the situation from two aspects of ideological framework of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar and the theoretical framework of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. What is the ideological aspect of this? The BJP manifesto is very very clear. What does the BJP manifesto say? You talk about cultural nationalism. What is cultural nationalism? The cultural nationalism is that you are committed to the concept of one nation, one people and one culture. It is very much there in their manifesto of 1998. I quote the manifesto:

THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): If it had been someone else who was speaking, I would not have interrupted him. I would have waited till the end. But it is Shri Sangma, the respected former Speaker of this House and whom I have held in high esteem and great respect, I wish he had not merely read one report from somewhere, and as far as I recall, even that report did not say what he says now. But immediately on the day this was mentioned in the House, the hon. Prime Minister stood up to say that so far as this Government is concerned, my Party is concerned, we cannot reconcile with any such proposal. So, if there is any such proposal, the Delhi Government would be directed to immediately end it because they do not understand. Instead of citing that, when a former Speaker and the leading Member of the Congress Party repeats that kind of a thing, the damage is done not merely to the BJP, the damage is not done merely to this Government, the damage is done to the whole country. This is what I would like to repeat again and again. (Interruptions). Therefore, I would plead with you that if you are to quote someone, let us know where you are quoting from. Then, in this particular case, the whole House had heard the official view of the Government and the Prime Minister. There was no point in quoting it again. (Interruptions).

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA : Maybe I used the word `closed' and Shri Rajindra Gupta did not use the word `closed'. Unfortunately, I do not have that paper with me, but I have my notes. The language he used is: `Churches...(Interruptions).

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: The hon. Prime Minister has given the official view of the Government and not the Party. (Interruptions).

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA :I know it. Shri Advani, that was later on.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: Shri Sangma, the day this news item appeared in the morning newspapers, the matter was raised in the House and immediately the hon. Prime Minister, without even caring to go and enquire from the Delhi Government, said what is the Government's view and what is the Party's view. Everyone thought that the whole matter was closed. After three months, a leader of the party is talking about the atrocity on minorities and raises this issue which was closed by the whole House.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI : If there are Members from the Opposition who are speaking, let the Members from the Government side also get a chance. There have been so many Members from the Government side who had approached me. We had allotted their names and all of them have been waiting to speak.

PROF. P.J. KURIEN : Let it be extended by one hour.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: I have no objection.

MR. SPEAKER: Is it the pleasure of the House to extend the time by one hour?

SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: Yes.