Cong plays the game of breaking Governments: PM Saturday, May 1 2004 08:54 Hrs (IST)
Chhindwara (MP):
Accusing Congress of creating political instability by pulling down many a Government, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Apr 30, 2004) asked people to give a decisive mandate for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha polls to ensure stability at the Centre.
"History shows whenever there was fractured verdict in elections, Congress played its game of breaking Governments, but BJP and its allies want political stability in the country... We seek a decisive mandate from the people," Vajpayee said at an election meeting.
Mounting a blistering attack on Congress, he said that the party often pushed the country into uncertainty and instability by breaking Governments headed by those including H D Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral and Charan Singh.
Therefore, people should not give Congress any opportunity to play its game this time and must vote decisively instead of throwing a hung Parliament, Vajpayee said.
Referring to the understanding between Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress, the Prime Minister said that Congress appears to have forgotten the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi while entering into an alliance with the party, which is often linked with the assassins.
Vajpayee said BJP-led NDA was never worried about any possibility of his Government collapsing as it worked as a cohesive whole by taking everyone into confidence during the past six years.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti and BJP candidate from Chhindwara constituency Prahlad Patel also addressed the meeting.
On the performance of his Government, Vajpayee said that the image of the country has been substantially elevated in the international arena, while the economy took giant strides benefiting the poor, downtrodden and deprived sections the most.
For the first time a separate ministry was formed at the Centre for tribal welfare as also a separate National Commission to ensure speedy uplift of the tribal population, he said, adding tribals were being given land and education free of cost.
Referring to Indo-Pak relations, he said strengthening of friendship between the two neighbouring countries would lead to considerable cut in expenditure on Defence sector and acquisition of weapons.
Efforts were being made to resolve the problem through a dialogue and now peace prevails on the border, he said adding, it is essential to maintain harmony and brotherhood in the country instead of fighting on petty issues.