Mahasmund (Chhattisgarh): Asserting the country has reached a take-off stage under the Vajpayee regime, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani tonight (Apr 11, 2004) said that India's progress under Congress rule was not commensurate with its human and natural resources.

Despite 50 years of Congress rule and enormous wealth of natural resources, the country had failed to join the club of developed nations, he told an election rally.

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"But we did what we promised. During six years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government, the country has progressed a lot in all spheres whether politically, economically or socially," Advani said.

Appealing to voters in Mahasmund constituency to vote in favour of former Union Minister V C Shukla who is pitted against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Advani said, "The country's global stature has increased and India is at a take-off stage."

Asserting the coming elections were significant in the Indian political history, he said it would lay the foundation for a new India.

Shukla, who joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the eve of the elections, is locked in a high-voltage contest with Jogi, who was critically injured in a car accident this morning.

Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, where he was accorded a rousing reception amidst bursting of firecrackers and amazing display of colours, Advani made an indirect comparison between the present-day Congress party and the colonial Britishers who wanted to instil inferiority complex amongst Indians.

"I don't understand why the Congress is criticising the India Shining campaign. I would have understood if it would have glorified the BJP," Advani said.

"During the British rule, our colonial masters tried to instil inferiority complex among the people. When we said India is shining and Opposition criticised it, I was surprised," he said.

"In fact, even an American report said that India would become one of the three big economies of the world. So why can't we have faith in ourselves," Advani said.

"Why can't Congress praise us for the development work done during the six years of NDA Government, as Vajpayee had lauded Indira Gandhi after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War in which 93,000 Pakistani Prisoners of War were captured," he asked.

He also came down heavily on Congress for boycotting the unveiling of Vir Savarkar's portrait in the Central Hall of Parliament and asked Congressmen to introspect over the degeneration of their party over the years.

He also addressed rallies at Vilaspur and Arang besides several small gatherings. Tomorrow Advani will enter Orissa on the 31st day of his over 8,000-km long Bharat Uday Yatra.