BJP's new cell will weed out "anti-national forces": JP Nadda

Ahmedabad,Vadodara: Like antibodies keep a check on bad cells in a human body, the government will maintain vigil against anti-national forces, BJP national president JP Nadda told PTI. He said so, defending the anti-radicalisation cell announced by BJP in its manifesto for Gujarat assembly polls.

The manifesto for Gujarat, where BJP ruled for 25 years, suggested that the announced cell would identify and weed out potential threats and sleeper cells belonging to terrorist organisations as well as anti-national forces.

"Like antibodies in the human body, keep a check on bad cells. It is the State's responsibility to keep a check on anti-national cells in the country. Then there are some cells that work underground, so this anti-radicalisation cell is required to keep a check on such cells," said the BJP head.

Further, he said that BJP is committed to rolling out Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as it is a national issue.

"The country's resources and its responsibilities are equal for all. Therefore, the UCC is a welcome step. We would like to implement the UCC in as many states as possible," he said.

To the question of why BJP was not fielding Muslim candidates in the State, he employed 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' as the answer.

"Late Dr. (APJ) Abdul Kalam became the President (of India) with the BJP's support, then the (Narendra) Modi government at the Centre appointed Muslim governors as well. So, we follow the principle of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', and tickets for elections are given purely based on winnability," he said.

On proclaiming "freebies" in Gujarat's manifesto, despite slamming Aam Aadmi Party and its head Arvind Kejriwal for the same, he said that one should "distinguish between empowerment and allurement".

"Both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress know they are not coming to power in Gujarat. Therefore, they can announce freebies without accounting for the funds and budget needed for them," Nadda said. "While our programmes are welfare measures for empowering the poor and the needy. It is not like freebies, which are free for all, they are specifically meant for a segment of the population.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi resides in the hearts of the people of Gujarat, and they will again repose their faith in the BJP, and the party will win another term," he asserted.

With complete confidence, he claimed, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi resides in the hearts of the people of Gujarat, and they will again repose their faith in the BJP, and the party will win another term.'

Gujarat will have a two-phase assembly poll on December 1 and 5, while votes will be counted on December 8.