Swadeshi in today's context does not mean blind opposition to either liberalisation or globalisation. However, it means evolving an effective strategy to further our national interest by seizing the opportunities and resisting the challenges presented by globalisation, said Laxman immediately after taking over the reins from Kushabhau Thakre. He was delivering a presidential address at the two-day national council meet at the orange city here which happens to be the headquarter of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Laxman, who spoke in chaste Hindi, said India cannot afford to either overlook global challenges in the wake of far reaching economic and political changes or ignore opportunities to achieve greater prosperity for people of India. He brushed aside allegations that the party has abandoned its long held commitment to Swadeshi and effected U-turn by adopting economic reforms.

However, he held the previous governments responsible for poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment. Laxman asked the Vajpayee government to reverse the prolonged neglect of agriculture, food processing, rural development, small and cottage industries, textiles and other traditional industries. There is also the urgent need to speed up infrastructure development in power, railways, roads, ports, airports, he said.

The BJP president called for a sound strategy to take up challenges in the wake of WTO and other international obligations. Within these parameters, the government should provide adequate protection for domestic industry, he said.

Laxman while extending the party's support to the PSU divestment said it would not hurt the welfare of labour. "Our policy is to use the proceeds of disinvestment to enhance further the allocation to the social sector and to retire public debt, which has become a heavy burden to us."

Recalling Prime Minister AB Vajpayee's call to make the next 10 years a decade of development, Laxman said that for this, Indian economy should grow at a rate of more than 9 per cent a year from the present 6.5 per cent.

On the possible digital divide, Laxman called upon the government, IT industry, the rest of the business class and academic institutions to respond urgently to this potential danger through launch of special efforts to reach the benefits of IT revolution to IT have-nots. Efforts should be stepped up so that IT becomes the newest tool to advance social justice, he noted.

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister AB Vajpayee called upon Laxman to draw a Laxman Rekha to contain indiscipline within the party organisation. Vajpayee who was to address a public meeting later in the evening left for Delhi on account of ill-health. He was accompanied by Union external affairs minister Jaswant Singh.