The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP stir against price rise from April 7

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Monday, Mar 31, 2008
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BJP stir against price rise from April 7

Special Correspondent

Party leaders to hold demonstrations and take out rallies in all towns

Party leaders would hold demonstrations and take out rallies
Farmers to be educated about ‘faulty’ policies of the Centre

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party will launch a week-long agitation from April 7 across the country in protest against spiralling prices of essential commodities and bad governance of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government headed by the Congress.

Party vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu told presspersons here on Sunday that the party leaders would hold demonstrations and take out rallies in towns and cities from April 7 to 14 as a symbolic gesture to “awaken the government” on the seriousness of the situation.

The objective of the agitation is to also draw the attention of the people on various issues related to price rise, shortage of foodgrains and hollowness in the Centre’s farm loan waiver scheme.

Taking a dig at the Left parties on continuing support to the UPA Government, he said: “The BJP would like to know from the Left parties how long they want the people to suffer on account of inefficient, irresponsible, and ineffective Government.” Despite a farmers’ package and the loan waiver scheme, farmers’ suicides continued unabated in Congress-ruled States and other parts of the country.

The BJP would also hold “kisan adalats” throughout the country in the next three months to educate farmers about the “faulty” policies pursued by the Manmohan Singh Government. The Left parties, which have been claiming credit for going slow on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, should tell the Centre to take steps to bring down the prices of commodities, steel and cement.

The Congress, which came to power on “aam admi” slogan, has betrayed the people, he alleged. The economic growth rate had decelerated and the manufacturing sector hit hard due to wrong policies of the UPA Government, Mr. Naidu said.

Assembly polls

Shimoga Special Correspondent reports:

Addressing presspersons in Shimoga, Mr. Naidu said the Congress was desperately trying to get the Assembly elections in Karnataka postponed as it was afraid to face polls confidently.

He challenged the Congress to name a leader who could lead the party in the coming elections. He said the fact that it had not been able to name a leader was its virtual admission that it was not confident to face the elections, Mr Naidu said.

Referring to the return of the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna to active State politics after a brief stint as Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. Naidu said that the person responsible for the defeat of the Congress in the last Assembly elections was being asked to lead the party in the coming elections.

He said that the recent visit of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi to Karnataka would not make any impact on the elections as he was new to politics.

He said the list of the BJP candidates would be released after the formal announcement on the elections was made by the Election Commission. He, however, said that process of selection of the candidates had begun.

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