Jamshedpur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Venkaiah Naidu today (Apr 16, 2004) said "a new food basket" would be created in the Eastern States of the country as National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has in its agenda to launch second green revolution on priority basis in the region.

Addressing a news conference, Naidu, who addressed an election meeting last night (Apr 15, 2004) in favour of Abha Mahato, a sitting MP from Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat, said the Eastern region has abundance of natural resources, arable lands, no dearth of minerals or water scarcity.

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He said a "targeted, dedicated and out of budget funds" would be allocated to uplift the backward States in Eastern and Northeastern States to abolish regional disparity.

"The party is committed to abolish regional disparity and focus will be laid to uplift the backward areas in the region," he said.

A new tribal policy was being framed and the NDA Government would ensure that the traditional lands of adivasis be restored to them, Naidu said, adding that there would be no more displacement of tribals.

He said they were even prepared to approach the apex court, if required, on the issue.

Clarifying his recent statement that there was no leadership before and after Atal Bihar Vajpayee, Naidu said, ''I had stated that there is no leader like Vajpayeeji.''

Commenting on recent poll surveys, Naidu said that those were not required as sometimes they proved to be right and sometime wrong.

He claimed that NDA will achieve a clear-cut majority in the coming poll and BJP would certainly increase its seat tally.