New Delhi: Attacking BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) for raising the "dead" Bofors issue time and again, Congress today (Apr 9, 2004) said the coming Lok Sabha presented the countrymen a choice between its value system of "pluralism" and that of BJP's "cultural nationalism".

Senior party leader and former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh also rubbished the Vajpayee Government's claims on the economic resurgence, asserting the progress on this front had been achieved during the Congress rule.

"BJP looks diffident. That's why it is raking up dead issues like Bofors," Singh, leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters in New Delhi, inaugurating an election office of party's candidate from South Delhi R K Anand.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...

He said coming polls presented options before the country to choose between two "value systems" -- one of Congress and another of BJP.

"Congress' value system desires pluralism, composite culture, an environment in which everybody could progress irrespective of his religion," he said.

"The other is that of BJP, which advocates cultural nationalism," Singh said, alleging it "seeks to divide the country and people needed to "ponder over what kind of country we would be offering to our grandchildren."

He claimed there was a "new (pro-Congress) atmosphere in the country, which would benefit Congress."