No Cong, BJP truck: Rajnath

RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya may feel it's time the Congress and BJP joined hands and formed a "grand coalition", as suggested by Lord Meghnad Desai, in the larger interests of the nation but BJP president Rajnath Singh certainly doesn't think so. His verdict: "Never".

RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya may feel it's time the Congress and BJP joined hands and formed a "grand coalition", as suggested by Lord Meghnad Desai, in the larger interests of the nation but BJP president Rajnath Singh certainly doesn't think so. His verdict: "Never".

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In an exclusive interview with to HT, Rajnath said: "There is no question of an alliance with the Congress," adding that Vaidya's comments could be his personal views. However, he said the BJP would continue to support any Union government on issues of national interest.

Vaidya had said the two should seriously consider forming an alliance since they have similar policies in the areas of economic and external affairs. "For 42 years, the Congress has ruled with a majority. But India still isn't among the developed nations. How can we have anything to do with a party that has ruined the country by playing politics of caste, religion and creed," Rajnath asked. He also turned the tables by accusing the Congress of being the "biggest" communal party by way of indulging in Muslim appeasement. "Politics shouldn't be of appeasement but of justice."

Asked to comment on party national secretary Harjit Singh Grewal's remarks that the Akalis were breaking coalition dharma by expanding their base among Hindus, Rajnath said that though he hadn't read the statement, he was given to understand that Grewal's remarks were distorted.