News of the Day

BJP has never regarded political opponents as anti-nationals: L.K. Advani

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never regarded those who disagreed with it as anti-national, L.K. Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister and a founding member of the party, wrote in a blog. The BJP has denied Mr. Advani ticket to contest from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, which elected him six times to the Lok Sabha.

“…in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as anti-national. The party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level,” Mr. Advani said in an apparent reference to statements from senior party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to the Opposition as anti-nationals.

Mr. Modi has repeatedly stated that Pakistan and his political opponents are working in tandem to defeat him. BJP president Amit Shah, who replaced Mr. Advani as the candidate in Gandhinagar, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have in recent days said the Opposition is trying to break India.

“The essence of Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression. Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our ‘enemies’, but only as our adversaries,” Mr. Advani, a pioneer of the Hindutva movement in India, wrote. Mr. Modi, Mr. Jaitley and a host of other current leaders of the BJP were proteges of Mr. Advani.

Mr. Advani said throughout his political career, which started as an RSS volunteer at the age of 14, he followed the principle of “Nation first, party next, self last”. “Serving the Motherland has been my passion and my mission ever since I joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of 14. My political life has been inseparably associated with my party for nearly seven decades — first with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and later with the Bharatiya Janata Party and I have been a founding member of both,” he said, recalling that he had worked closely with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and “many other great, inspiring and selfless leaders”.

Touching upon several points on which the Modi-Shah leadership of the BJP is facing criticism, Mr. Advani said: “Defence of democracy and democratic traditions, both within the party and in the larger national setting, has been the proud hallmark of the BJP. Therefore BJP has always been in the forefront of demanding protection of independence, integrity, fairness and robustness of all our democratic institutions, including the media. Electoral reforms, with special focus on transparency in political and electoral funding, which is so essential for a corruption-free polity, has been another priority for our party.”

The veteran asked his party colleagues to “look back, look ahead and look within.”

Modi tweet

In his response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Mr. Advani perfectly summed up the true essence of the BJP, most notably the guiding mantra of “Nation first, party next, self last”.

“Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it,” he added

Jet Airways’ lenders to invite bids for stake sale on April 6

Amid uncertainty over future of Jet Airways, the consortium of SBI-led lenders on Thursday said bids for selling stake would be invited on April 6 and other options would be explored in case the stake sale efforts does not result in an “acceptable outcome”.

After taking stock of the current situation at cash-strapped Jet Airways, which is currently operating less than 30 planes, the lenders said they would pursue resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework.

The expressions of interest for selling stake in the ailing airline would be invited on April 6 and the last date for submission of bids would be April 9, a statement issued by the SBI on behalf of 26 lenders said.

SBI is the lead lender to Jet Airways, which has a debt burden of more than 8,000 crore.

“The lenders are cognisant that the outcome of the efforts of the lenders will depend on the interest shown by the parties on sale of stake in the company,” the statement issued late in the evening said.

“Whilst all efforts will be made for the stake sale by the lenders, other options may be considered by the lenders should these efforts not result in an acceptable outcome,” it said.

The statement was issued after a nearly three-hour meeting of the lenders in the national capital. The meeting was chaired by SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar, who earlier in the day met several government officials in the finance and civil aviation ministries.

Under the debt resolution plan approved by the Jet Airways’ board on March 25, lenders have taken majority stake in the airline and are set to infuse 1,500 crore funds. Besides, the carrier’s founder and promoter Naresh Goyal as well as his wife Anita Goyal quit the board. The shareholding of Goyals have come down to 25% from 51% earlier.

On Wednesday, Mr. Naresh Goyal, also former chairman of the airline, said he had agreed to every term and condition laid down by lenders to ensure timely release of funds for the airline.

Acute financial crunch has forced the airline to ground aircraft, cancel flights and delay payment of salaries, including to pilots.

Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said Jet Airways is currently operating a fleet of 26 planes and the airline right now fulfils the criteria for operating on international routes.

Jet Airways, which is grappling with acute financial woes, had a fleet of around 119 planes.

Source – The Hindu

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