FOR a government reconciled to its defeat from the start, the BJPs policytestament contained in the presidential address to the joint session of Parliament wasonly a constitutional formality. But it succeeded in conveying the partys politicalmessage.
The address endorsed part of its manifesto on issues like autonomy toDoordarshan and All India Radio, 33 per cent reservation to women in state legislaturesand Parliament, statehood to Uttaranchal and Bihars "vanachal", immediaterelief to about five crore poor families and a 10-year plan for free nutrition, healthcare and education facilities to the poor besides the need to restore institutionalcredibility and assertion of probity and accountability as key norms of the Government inpublic administration.
But it made a volte face on certain other consistent issues of theparty. For instance, it ignored its promise of facilitating the construction of a Ramtemple in Ayodhya as well as its commitment to the uniform civil code and abrogation ofArticle 370. The only Hindutva slogan it retained in the address was a total ban onslaughter of cows and its progeny.
However, to show some degree of continuity with the precedinggovernments foreign and domestic policies including Article 370, the address spokeof the governments keenness to "ensure free and fair polls" in Jammu andKashmir.
In another drift from the partys commitment to go nuclear, itsaddress said: "While our commitment to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy iswell-known, where necessary in the light of our national interests, our nuclear policywill be re-evaluated".