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Karnataka polls have national significance: Advani

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Poll path: (From left) BJP Leaders Ananth Kumar, L.K. Advani, B.S. Yeddyurappa and Anekal candidate A. Narayanaswamy at the public meeting at Anekal, near Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, on Friday sought to give a national dimension to the Karnataka Assembly polls by categorically stating that it has national significance.

Addressing a public meeting in Anekal town, near Bangalore, as part of his one-day poll campaign in three districts of the State, Mr. Advani said the manner in which the voters of Karnataka exercise their franchise would have a direct bearing on the country’s political future.

“The United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre will not dare to hold an early election to the Lok Sabha if you [voters of Karnataka] give a clear mandate to the BJP in Karnataka. In that case, the UPA will hold Lok Sabha polls only by April/May 2009 as against its reported plans to advance them. This will give life for some more time to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,” he said.

Mr. Advani alleged that such was the negative impact of the price rise on the lives of people that a large number of poor and middle-class families had either stopped buying foodgrains or were opting for low-quality foodgrains. Such was the speed in which the prices were increasing that the Congress was reportedly scared that the anger of voters against it, with respect to price rise, might further increase if it stays in power till the end of the term of the Lok Sabha in 2009. The Congress is said to be thinking it wise to advance the poll schedule, he said. “But I want this UPA Government to continue till 2009 so that the anger of the people would also increase against it,” he said.

Mr. Advani made a fervent appeal to voters of Karnataka to punish the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the elections for the UPA’s alleged failure to properly respond to the problems of the people, and the political betrayal by the Janata Dal (S) in the State. Accusing the UPA of failing on all fronts and unleashing cruelty on the people through its wrong policies, he said the only option left for the voters was to punish the Congress. He said the situation was similar to the Lok Sabha polls held soon after the emergency when the Congress was defeated for the first time.

Mr. Advani also dwelt at length on the security issue and charged the UPA government with failure, especially in handling terrorism. While in contrast, the NDA Government had given top priority for crushing terrorism. The UPA was yet to arrest those responsible for the attacks against the IISc. in Bangalore, Mumbai train blasts and attacks on the Ayodhya temple, he said.

Mr. Advani said it was strange that some political leaders in Karnataka were hoping for an emergence of a hung Assembly though the voters wanted a stable government.

He also tried to draw an analogy between the ongoing Twenty20 cricket series and the present political scenario in Karnataka. “The Twenty20 cricket series reminds me of the power-sharing pact between our party and the Janata Dal (S) for a period of 20 months each,” he said. “The Janata Dal (S) Chief Minister made a public declaration that he will hand over power to the BJP after 20 months. But what happened later was a political betrayal,” he said.

In his second reference to the cricket series, Mr. Advani said: “The BJP has already named B.S. Yeddyurappa as captain of its cricket team. If you happen to meet the Congress workers, ask them who is the captain of their team. They will only say that we will name our captain after the match [polls]. This shows that they are sure that they are going to lose the match. They want to play without the captain.”

You are aware of China dolls and China batteries. But have you ever heard of China rice and dal? According to Mr. Advani, the China rice and China dal are new terminologies which have entered the grocery market in the wake of the price rise. As the poor and middle-class people are unable to cope with escalating prices, they are now buying very low-quality foodgrains and tur dal which are available at cheap rates. This kind of cheap dal is called China dal while the cheaper rice is called China rice. Mr. Advani made it clear that these food items were not imported from China, but were only being described as China items as they were cheaper.

Showering praise on the schemes taken up by the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate, Mr. Yeddyurappa, in his two State budgets, Mr. Advani said the people of Karnataka should give a clear and comfortable majority to the BJP if they want political stability and development. Mr. Yeddyurappa, BJP National General Secretary Ananth Kumar and party candidate from Anekal A. Narayanaswamy were also present.

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