Farukkhabad: Seizing on NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) chief Sharad Pawar's remarks on the choice of leader of an anti-NDA (National Democratic Alliance) alternative, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Apr 28, 2004) played the stability card to the hilt and said Opposition was more interested in grabbing power than governance.

"All political parties and their leaders are currently busy impressing upon the voters by presenting themselves as prospective aspirants for the post of Prime Minister and now it is the time for you to judge as to really who is capable of providing a stable Government in the country," he told an election rally in Farukkhabad.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Mentioning Sharad Pawar's reported remarks that he was in the race for Prime Ministership and that a leader of the alliance should not be chosen on the numerical strength of a party but on his wider acceptability, Vajpayee said the Opposition leaders have already started staking their claim for the top post.

"There is no dearth of leaders aspiring to become a Prime Minister," Vajpayee said adding what the country needed was a leader who could head a team that was committed to development of the country and provide stability.

He attacked Congress for not tolerating non-Congress Governments and pulling them down and juxtaposed with his record of "successfully" running a coalition Government of 26 parties for five years and ensuring all-round development.

The Prime Minister urged the electorate to vote for a stable Government as an instable and corrupt Government would not succeed in taking the country to the pinnacle of progress.

Lauding the minorities for changing their stance towards BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Vajpayee said the five-year tenure of his Government proved beyond doubt that it was not against minorities.

"The last five years have proved that BJP is not a bogey for minorities," he said and criticised Opposition parties for raking up the Gujarat riots issue in order to "confuse" the minorities.

"We regret the incidents in Gujarat," he said and advised the Opposition parties, including Congress, to exercise restraint.

Recalling the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee asked why Congress has failed to acknowledge it and cautioned that attempts to provoke Muslims would not succeed anymore.