Nationalism, free speech co-exist: Arun Jaitley

As it braces for the electoral battles in some key states, the BJP on Sunday made it clear that while development will be its main plank, “nationalism” will set the tone of its campaign against rivals. The nationalism debate dominated the party’s two-day conclave ending Sunday, when the BJP asserted the “ideology of nationalism” guides it and that it will never compromise on the issue.

BJP president Amit Shah set the tone on the nationalism issue in his inaugural address Saturday when he asserted the party will not tolerate any attack on the nation.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, briefing reporters on the political resolution by the national executive, said the Constitution gives freedom of expressing dissent and disagreement, but not the country’s destruction. He said: “Freedom of expression and nationalism do necessarily co-exist.”

With Assembly polls due in four states soon, the party sounded confident of winning Assam but was cautious about the other states.

Launching a frontal attack on the Congress, the BJP claimed its opponent was “quite content” in becoming the “tail-ender” of any alliance, citing the examples of Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The BJP was silent on the regional players, who are dominant in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu had moved the resolution and was seconded by national general secretary Saroj Pandey.