The Hindu : Move beyond cricket diplomacy, says Vajpayee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 29, 2004

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Move beyond cricket diplomacy, says Vajpayee

BAHRAICH (UTTAR PRADESH), MARCH 28. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today suggested that India and Pakistan move beyond the current cricket diplomacy to give permanence to the thaw in bilateral relations.

"Jahan pehle bomb se khela ja raha tha wahan ab cricket match khel rahen hain (Earlier, bombs were being used but now we are playing cricket)," he told an election rally here, adding that South Asia was never so peaceful before. But cricket could not be played 365 days, he said in an obvious reference to the ongoing India-Pakistan series and reminded that "we are still fighting terrorism."

Blaming the Congress for the problems plaguing the country, Mr. Vajpayee said his Government had taken efforts to solve them. The growth rate had touched eight per cent, the foreign exchange reserves were billions of dollars and there were plenty of foodgrains. "We want another mandate for taking the country towards full development."

On the proposed inter-linking of rivers, the Prime Minister said the project was conceived during the Congress' rule but it chose to keep it on the backburner. "We have taken the initiative on the project to tide over the problems of drought and floods."

Mr. Vajpayee said that the measures taken by his Government were for every section of society, and the country had reached new heights during the five years of the NDA's rule. "We had promised that we would provide jobs to one crore youths and we have done it. Today, they are helping in the development of the nation."

"The Congress had a misconception that without them, the country could not run. We have done it and taken the country to new heights."

"The Opposition parties want to remove us. But the voters are ready to ask why? After all, our progress report for the last six years has been the best," he said. Seeking the support of the people in fighting corruption, the Prime Minister appealed to them to vote for the BJP on the basis of the developmental work undertaken by his Government.

Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh, both former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers, and the party's candidates from Bahraich and Kaiserganj, Padamsen Chaudhary and Arif Mohammad Khan, were present. — PTI

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