Mumbai: Likening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA's (National Democratic Alliance) much touted "India Shining" campaign with Nero's fiddle playing, former Prime Minister V P Singh today (Apr 22, 2004) said, "The feel good factor is nothing but a cruel joke on the poor of this country."

"The 'India Shining' and feel good campaign is nothing but a cruel joke on the poor of this country ... or for the ruling dispensation, poverty does not exist in India," Singh said launching an acerbic attack on the NDA Government.

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"Is the fire in the belly of poor, a symbol of shining India," Singh, also a well-known poet, asked.

The former Prime Minister sarcastically asked whether suicides by farmers, growing unemployment, closure of industries and labourers losing their jobs was a sign of shining India.

Singh, who is in the metropolis to campaign for Vidya Chavan, who resigned from the Janata Dal-Secular and is contesting as an independent from Mumbai North seat, also emphasised on electoral reforms.

"Make voting compulsory, give right of negative voting and only those bagging 50 per cent or above votes be declared elected," the former Prime Minister said.

Singh said that he is exhorting voters to back those, who have worked for communal amity, participated in peoples' agitation and as an elected representative, is available to the people.

The former Prime Minister, who is not a member of any political party, said that in his fight against the communal forces, his first preference is Left front, then Janata Dal-Secular and thirdly the Congress.