Nagpur: Bangaru Lakshman, who took over as the first Dalit president of BJP, on Sunday, cautioned party workers against the machinations of the opposition and asked them to work towards strengthening the party.

"We have not been able to fill in the space vacated by the congress and other parties," he said in his presidential address to the National Council, which began its two-day session here, adding, "BJP has not yet become the preferred party of governance in the eyes of the people."

With the NDA government's handling of the terrorist problem in Jammu & Kashmir coming in for severe criticism by former union minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta, especially in the context of the killing of Amarnath pilgrims, Lakshman said the situation is "delicate and complex".

"The party may be required to debate and decide its position on several issues that may constitute the basis of the talks between the government and Kashmir-based groups," he added.

He said the party had a crucial responsibility in evolving a correct approach in the best interests of India's unity, integrity and security.

He urged the government and the people to remain vigilant about the dangers posed by militancy and said the center and state governments should work together to make India a "zero tolerance" zone against terrorism and extremism.

On economy, Lakshman said the government should prepare a sound strategy for transition to liberalization and globalization.

"Within the parameters of the WTO and our international obligations, the government should provide adequate protection for as long as necessary to those industries that need help to face international competition," he said.

Asserting that indiscipline would not be tolerated and should be nipped in the bud, Lakshman called for vigilance against the "malaise of indiscipline and defiance of the party's collective decisions by individuals and groups.

"If we are not a disciplined party, we had better not be a party at all. We should put down these tendencies mercilessly." He called for introspection on why such tendencies were developing in the party and said merely evolving mechanisms to manage and contain these tendencies within acceptable limits was not enough.

"Instead of dealing with these symptoms, we need to address ourselves to the root causes that give rise to these tendencies and deal with them comprehensively and honestly," he said.

Lakshman felt the need to strengthen the political and ideological education of party members and cadres with particular attention being given to the task of imbibing "our unique political culture to our new members who are joining us continuously and in large numbers."

Stressing on the need to draw a `lakshman rekha' on the question of maintaining party discipline, he said there was need to "evolve an explicit and unambiguous code of conduct."

PTI

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