Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Thursday sought political consensus on strict implementation of the two-child norm and a one-time amendment to pave the way for a fixed five-year term and simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
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"This should not be construed as anti-minority policy," he clarified. The economic development of the country would be aided by strict implementation of the two-child norm. "A stable population growth will make the allocation of finite resources of our country more meaningful," he said.
Click here for the yatra route map
"There are small families among minorities also," the Deputy Prime Minister said. "Efforts will be made to come to a consensus after the elections. It had to be done in a manner that is acceptable to all," he added.
"I have used the yatra to disabuse members of the minority community of any apprehension they may have had about the BJP. I see a remarkable change in the perception of the Muslims about us. The government's approach to minorities has been absolutely above board," he said.
He termed the Gujarat riots as an 'aberration' saying no one can justify killing of innocents.
Claiming that the BJP has been at the receiving end of a 'slanderous propaganda' for several years, Advani said the situation has now changed with minorities seeing through the game plans of 'our political adversaries'.
He extended support to the suggestion on having a fixed term for legislatures as in the case in some European democracies.
Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State assemblies was the norm from 1952 to 1967. It was subsequently discontinued and "as a result, every alternate year we have been having general or mini-general elections."
Electoral considerations continuously influence decision-making in the government. "This puts the nation permanently in election mode," the deputy prime minister said.
The cause of good governance would be better served if all elections are conducted simultaneously after every five years. "I would like this important political reform to be considered by all political parties to enable us to forge a consensus on the matter," he said.
Later addressing a roadside meeting near Jagtial, he said this was the first election where good governance and development were the main issues.
"We want India to emerge as super power and are sincerely making efforts in this direction. Good governance can be achieved only when the Centre and States work together," he said and sought a decisive mandate for the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and for the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh as both were bound by a 'common goal of development'.
The Deputy Prime Minister said his twin message of national pride and good governance has struck a chord in the five states he has visited so far covering over 2,000km.
Advani, who entered Andhra Pradesh on March 16, will travel through the Naxalite-affected districts of Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Adilabad on Thursday before entering Maharashtra.