The Hindu : Advani's yatra a flop show in Haryana: Hooda

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Friday, Mar 26, 2004

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Advani's yatra a flop show in Haryana: Hooda

By Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 25. The Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, hit out at the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani, today for his "outbursts'' against the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and asserted that the "feel good'' and "India shining'' propaganda unleashed by the Bharatiya Janata Party stood fully exposed before the people.

In a statement here, Mr.Hooda said that the Bharat Uday Yatra of Mr.Advani had proved to be a flop show in Haryana whereas the road show of Ms.Sonia Gandhi in the State had evoked tremendous response.

The Congress leader alleged that people were groaning under the impact of lopsided economic policies of the NDA regime which were virtually making them "feel bad''. The NDA regime, which was pursuing the economic policies dictated by multi-national companies, had bartered away India's economic interests and the worst sufferer was the common man who was forced to pay through his nose exorbitant sums as user charges or toll taxes. The prices of essential commodities were beyond the reach of the people. Farmers were committing suicide in several parts of the country as they were not getting remunerative prices for their produce while the costs of inputs had increased manifold.

Mr.Hooda further charged that the NDA regime was going in for indiscriminate privatisation of big public sector units which was not in the interest of the country at large. On the other hand, successive Congress Governments had not only followed a balanced economic path which was a blend of liberalisation and prudence but had also ensured that the common man did not suffer.

The Congress leader further alleged that the NDA would be defeated at the battle of the hustings as the people were aware that the NDA rule was characterised by scams galore and they wanted to bring in a Government which would not only look after their interests but also be free of `scams.' He further asserted that the claims of "India shining'' were virtually hollow as no real development had taken place for the common man. The policies of the NDA set-up favoured the rich and the haves who could afford expensive air travel and purchase foreign-branded luxury goods. Moreover, the security of the country had been endangered as was evident from terrorist attacks on Parliament and Akshardham Temple. People were not feeling safe under the "corrupt'' BJP rule, he added.

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