The Hindu : Vajpayee promises second green revolution

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

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National

Vajpayee promises second green revolution

BEED (MAHARASHTRA), MARCH 20. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihar Vajpayee, today unveiled a blueprint of the developmental works that would be taken up if the National Democratic Alliance is voted back to power. Interlinking of rivers, ushering in a second ``green revolution'' and employment generation programme would be on top of the new government's agenda, he said.

Referring to drought in many parts of the country, he said a scheme should be in place so that even if there was inadequate rainfall then there should not be water scarcity.

Mr. Vajpayee, who was addressing an election rally, said the ambitious programme of interlinking of rivers would be implemented if the NDA forms government. Similarly, he would implement a comprehensive plan to deal with unemployment. It would also double agriculture production and usher in a second ``green revolution.''

The Congress had ``neglected'' issues such as drinking water, electricity, health, education and roads in its four-decade rule. The NDA Government would lay emphasis on solving these issues. The Congress was also responsible for the disparity in development of various States and the NDA's priority would be balanced development.

Women's Bill

Mr. Vajpayee blamed the Congress for ``stalling'' the Women's Reservation Bill and said the BJP and its allies, after getting a decisive mandate, would pass the legislation.

``We were prepared for all kinds of agreements to get the Bill passed, but the Congress foiled our attempts.''

``Even some other political parties were of the view that 33 per cent of reservation should be brought down, the BJP was even prepared for this as we wanted to make a beginning,'' Mr. Vajpayee said.

The Congress wanted to topple the NDA Government by ``creating a wedge between our allies, but unitedly we foiled all its attempts.''

Referring to the Shiv Sena-BJP's alliance in Maharashtra, Mr. Vajpayee said the Congress criticised ``our tie-up'' but now it wanted to shake hands with others. But even if both the Congress came together in Maharashtra, the saffron combine would defeat them, he said. - PTI

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