Aligarh: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Apr 29, 2004) asked the Muslims not to harbour doubts about Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and urged them to give the party a chance in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"There should not be any doubt in the hearts of Muslims about us and we cannot be in any way be dubbed as anti-Muslim," he told an election meeting in Aligarh.

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"You have tested Congress. I don't want to criticise other parties but you can test them too. But I want you to support us this time," Vajpayee said.

"I want you to be with us. Give us a chance," he said adding, "We will show how good relations are established."

The Prime Minister said BJP had decided to put all contentious issues on the back burner because "we are convinced that issues relating to development and economic progress should be given top priority".

The country can make genuine progress only when there is unity amongst the people, he added.

The Prime Minister said the doors of BJP are open to all and "we look forward to our Muslim brethren to join us in large number."

Referring to the thaw in relations with Pakistan, he said, "We are seriously pursuing the peace process and are determined that this initiative continues to its logical end."

Vajpayee said the problem of terrorism was being faced by all countries, including Islamic nations, and this problem can be successfully resolved only when all the countries join hands to meet the challenge.

Referring to recent exit polls, Vajpayee said he was totally undisturbed by them and was confident that NDA would achieve a majority on its own.

Launching a frontal attack on Congress, he said none of the allies of that party trusted it and whatever efforts Congress makes for cobbling a majority were bound to fail.

The Prime Minister asked how Congress could claim to give stability to the country when already differences have arisen within the Congress-led alliance regarding the leadership issue.

Vajpayee said political stability is absolutely necessary if India is to prosper and only NDA is in a position today to provide stability.