The Hindu : National : Congress unreliable, says Vajpayee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004

National

National

Congress unreliable, says Vajpayee

By J. P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, APRIL 27 . The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today questioned the reliability of the Congress as an ally saying that it was known to "ditch" anyone who reposed faith in it.

Mr. Vajpayee, who arrived here to address a series of election meetings in the Lucknow parliamentary constituency, from where he is contesting, cautioned Muslim voters "to recognise the true colours of the Congress." The party had promised to make Jagjivan Ram the Prime Minister, but ditched him midway. The same was the experience of Morarji Desai. "Aur bhi bahut se hain par main unka naam nahin lena chahata" (There are others too but I do not want to name them), he said.

Reports suggested that the minorities were changing their preferences and were shifting from the Samajwadi Party to the Congress. Many like them had relied on the Congress in the past but ultimately found that it was not "trustworthy," Mr. Vajpayee said, while addressing a meeting at Bakshi Ka Talab, a rural segment of his constituency.

He "advised" the Congress to stick to principles. "Congress ne bahut din raj kar liya, ab kuchch din desh ki chinta kare" (the Congress has ruled for long; and now it should think of the country for some time). The politics of "seats" did not bring honour to the country, he said, adding that principled politics appeared to be beyond the thinking of the Congress.

Mr. Vajpayee spoke on the "achievements" of his Government in the last six years, saying that it had enhanced India's honour among the comity of nations. During the Kargil conflict the U.S. President requested him to end fighting, but he was told that India would not stop fighting before getting back every inch of its land. After India conducted the nuclear test, world powers stopped talking to the country. Today, India was being invited to every important international meet, Mr. Vajpayee said.

It was his dream to "build" India as a great country. Much had been done in the past six years. The country had vast foreign exchange reserves. Last year, 14 States had experienced drought but none was allowed to die of hunger. Elections were being held in an atmosphere that was never so in the past. There was peace prevailing on the borders. India wanted development and advised Pakistan to follow suit. After all, the two countries had gained nothing by waging wars. Those selling weapons were the only beneficiaries.

`U.S wanted us to return

territory to Pakistan'

UNI reports:

The Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the United States had suggested to him to return the Pakistani territory India had wrested during the Kargil conflict.

Mr. Vajpayee told an election meeting in Lucknow that the then U.S. President had spoken to him at the instance of Islamabad to leave the Pakistani territory.

India's decision to return the Pakistani territory had indeed won the country appreciation of the global community, Mr. Vajpayee said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National