BJP to try out diluted version of Hindutva

With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections in five states, the Bharatiya Janata Party has apparently decided to push ahead with Hindutva, but a diluted version to ensure its National Democratic Alliance partners do not take offence.

After introspecting on every aspect of the setback the party faced in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the party has decided to march ahead with twin commitments - to nationalism and development.

A document circulated by the saffron party also explained its version of the wider meaning of nationalism, which is, an ideology to strengthen national unity and counter the rise of casteist and other divisive forces.

The party would continue wooing minorities like Christians, Muslims and others but without compromising on its basic values.

Also Read Media kept out of BJP top brass meet in Goa BJP extends chintan baithak by a day

Addressing mediapersons on Monday afternoon after the conclusion of the three-day chintan baithak (brainstorming session) in Goa, party president M Venkaiah Naidu said, "Hindutva is a way of life and each Indian should be proud of it. That is nationalism for us. We have been using Hindutva as and when necessary."

He insisted that the BJP is not under any of kind of pressure from its NDA partners on this issue.

He denied the Ram mandir issue had been discussed. "Hasn't the BJP done anything else other than the Ram mandir in the last 15 years," an irritated Naidu asked.

The party has also chalked out ten areas in which to strengthen the party organisation while focusing on ideological orientation.

Keeping the coming elections in mind, it has prepared an action plan for Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh while a separate strategy has also been chalked out to rejuvenate the party in Uttar Pradesh.

After the conclusion of the meet, all the BJP leaders left Goa on Monday afternoon.