Bharatiya Janata Party president M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday asked his party members to prepare for the polls in four Congress-ruled states at the end of this year.

Delivering the inaugural address at the two-day BJP national executive meeting, he said, "The battle in the four states [Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chhattisgarh] has to be taken as a semifinal before the final onslaught... in the general election next year."

He expressed unhappiness with the party's preparations and urged the members to draw up a detailed programme to tell the people about the 'misrule in these states'.

"Obviously, discipline should top the agenda. The party has to take initiatives to curb indiscipline. We shall always remind ourselves that while performance of the government provides the right launching pad... it is the discipline of the leaders and workers that makes the difference," Naidu said.

Naidu said the BJP must learn from its defeat in the Himachal Pradesh election. "Cultural nationalism is our lifeline and Hindutva is the soul of India."

He paid tributes to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for completing five years in office.

The BJP president criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government for its healing touch policy. According to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, the objective of the policy is to 'apply ointment on the wounds' of the people who have been affected by militancy.

He said the role of the Congress, which is a partner in the J&K government, is worrisome.

"I would like to warn the Congress party that it would be held accountable for the consequences of the deteriorating situation in J&K," he said.

It is time for the Congress to review its Kashmir policy, he added.

He also accused the Congress and its allies of denigrating freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar, who had made 'stellar sacrifices'.

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 16 Sub: on hindutva If venkaiah naidu thinks that Hindutva is soul of India, then the qustion is who's Hindutva he is talking about? Who gave power to mr ... Posted by thejaswi Sub: Venkaiah on Hindutva Hindutva with its "Sarva Dharma Samabhav" is the Soul of India, but the Sangh Parivar is certainly not the soul of Hindutva. Posted by Shiv Gyani Sub: BJP - Not qualified Currently BJP is not qualified to play Semifinals, as they lost all matches in the group except Gujarat. Where they made a supportive pitch before ... Posted by H. R. Pichan Sub: Our soul : Venkaiah Mr. Naidu, I do believe that RELIGION IS THE AIDS OF THE MIND. Why dont political parties think of educating the millions of illiterates in ... Posted by The Shaman Sub: Hindutva the soul of India? Telling that hindutva is the soul of India is totally incorrect. Let the reader be informed that hinduism came through Aryans who are not the ... Posted by Ozzy