Friday, December 30 2005 14:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Facing an identity and image crisis, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Dec 30,2005) decided to go back to the basics declaring its commitment to Uniform Civil Code, abrogation of Article 370 and Ayodhya issue and asked party workers to constantlyexercise caution against 'contagious diseases' like corruption.

In a 'Rajat Jayanti Sandesh' (Silver Jubilee Message), adopted on the concluding day of three-day National Convention, the party also said that it remains firm in its demand on a complete ban on cow slaughter, as also population control and putting down terrorism with an iron hand.

Asking partymen to work unitedly to make BJP 'natural party of Government' by setting examples of good governance, it wanted partymen to promote and strengthen the culture of discipline and self discipline at all levels, beginning with the higher echelons.

"The rapidly gathering impression that acts of indiscipline will be condoned and that even serious cases of anti-party activities will be overlooked, has done immense damage to the health of our organization in the recent past," it said.

"We have to constantly exercise causation against contagious diseases such as corruption of which Congress is the fountainhead," it said.

The 'Sandesh' has come at a time when BJP's image of a 'party with a difference' has been dented by a series of scams which led to the expulsion of six party MPs and resignation of party general secretary Sanjay Joshi.

It also came in the backdrop of unease in relations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in recent months, epitomised by the clash after L K Advani's visit to Pakistan where he had praised its founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The message asked party workers to uphold ideology and idealism as the party's distinctive characteristic under the banner of 'Nation First'.

"At the same time, we must emphasise ideal and model behaviour on the part of party members," it said.

Addressing the Convention, former party chief M Venkaiah Naidu dismissed suggestions that the party had given up the core issues, asserting that there was no need for reiterating the same thing again and again.

"We are committed to Common Civil Code, Article 370 and building of a magnificent temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram," Naidu said, adding that the party was 'not apologetic' about it.

He asserted that the BJP was firmly against forced conversions and was favouring family planning by all including the majority and the minority communities.