The Hindu : Business / Briefly : Advani seeks vote for speedy development

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Friday, May 07, 2004

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Advani seeks vote for speedy development

Lalit Shastri

VIDISHA

The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today sought votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party on the basis of the performance of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government at the Centre and for speedy development of the country.

Mr. Advani said the people should elect the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance back to power at the Centre to enable the country to join the ranks of the most developed nations by 2020.

He was addressing a meeting here to solicit votes for the BJP national general secretary, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who is seeking to retain his Vidisha Lok Sabha seat. Earlier today, Mr. Advani addressed rallies at Itarsi (Hoshangabad) and Jhabua.

He said the country had made tremendous progress since Mr. Vajpayee became the Prime Minister six years ago. "There is no comparison between what has been achieved under the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre and the 45 years of Congress rule since Independence."

He said it was unfortunate that the people had suffered the scourge of poverty and faced crises on the power and roads front all these years "when most other countries, barring those in Africa, have moved on the fast track of development. This is something that has baffled the civilized world."

The BJP, at its Mumbai session in 1995, had resolved that Mr. Vajpayee would be the Prime Minister if they got the opportunity to form the Government. This promise was fulfilled in 1998 and the country had made great strides on the development front under Mr. Vajpayee's leadership.

"He has been the Prime Minister for six years. He is still the Prime Minister and would continue as Prime Minister for the next five years," Mr. Advani asserted.

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