The Hindu : National : UPA to blame for traumatic year: Advani

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UPA to blame for traumatic year: Advani

NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on New Year’s eve, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Wednesday said 2008 and the series of events in the year “have taught an important lesson to India to have a strong leader.”

“The most important lesson that the outgoing year teaches us is that India cannot afford to have a government in which the Prime Minister has no real authority, and the leader who has the authority has no accountability,” he said in a New Year statement here.

Mr. Advani accused the United Progressive Alliance of being responsible for the “traumatic year” for the country. “2008 has been a traumatic year for India both in respect of its economy as well as its security. The trauma has been mainly on account of the kind of government we have had in New Delhi,” the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said.

Taking a leaf out of Barack Obama’s victory campaign, Mr. Advani said the U.S. President-elect’s strategy also should herald a “change” in Indian politics in the New Year.

‘Untapped potential’

“I have always believed that our country has immense potential to progress. But this potential has not been fully unleashed. The situation must be changed. Let us together resolve to end despair and usher in hope,” he said.

“Tonight we bid goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009. On behalf of my party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, my alliance, the National Democratic Alliance, and on my own behalf, I wish all of you a very happy, prosperous and secure New Year,” he added. — PTI

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