Blow to BJP, Vajpayee to skip Bhopal meet

Atal Bihari Vajpayee will not attend the BJP’s national executive meet, the party announced on Thursday...

Atal Bihari Vajpayee will not attend the BJP’s national executive meet, the party announced on Thursday, ending speculation over his participation in the three-day conclave beginning Friday.

Doctors have cautioned him against attending the Bhopal meet, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters on Thursday. “He wanted to attend the meet but doctors advised him rest,” Naqvi said.

The party was not sure about his participation till Wednesday evening though all arrangements had been made at the venue in anticipation of

his arrival. From the first-floor hall at the party headquarters, the venue was shifted to the ground floor keeping his weak knees in mind. A makeshift ramp was also made for his convenience. The former PM was also scheduled to address a public rally the party has planned for Saturday at the Lal Parade ground. He was expected to be a major draw at the rally that will be addressed by L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi among others.

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According to Naqvi, Ram Sethu will be one of the major issues along with NDA’s poor performance, inflation and internal security.

Naqvi avoided making any comment on the VHP’s warning to political parties not to exploit the Ram Sethu issue. “We did not ask for anybody’s advice,” he said in response to a question on Uma Bharti’s assertion that the BJP lacks the credibility to take up the cause of Ram Sethu because it reneged on its promise to build the temple at Ayodhya.

“Mental bankruptcy,” was his answer to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s comments on Ram. “It is surprising how the UPA and its leaders like Sonia Gandhi are still propping him up,” he said.