Hardwar: Stating that India was becoming economically stronger, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (May 4, 2004) asked the electorate to vote for Atal Bihari Vajpayee in order to bring a stable Government at the Centre and asserted that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fulfilled most of its promises made six years ago.

"Our reserves are touching $ 112 billion. In the next few years, our country would become one among the three most rich nations in the world. So, give us another five year term so that a stable Government comes at the Centre," Advani said while addressing an election rally in Hardwar.

Vajpayee took over the reins of the country at a time when political uncertainty was prevailing at the Centre, he said. "We saw six Prime Ministers in between 1988 to 1998. But during the last six years, there is only one Prime Minister who is leading the country on the path of economic progress," Advani said.

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"If there is stability at the Centre, then only we can think of economic developments. And I can assure you that nobody can stop us from becoming a developed nation by 2020," he said.

Quoting a report from the 'Wall Street Journal', Advani said there was a clear change in perception in the minds of the Western nations, particularly in the US. He said now the US is no more considering India as a "poor" country.

"Six years ago, there was a sympathy towards India in US. But now they look upon India as a new challenge in some sectors, especially in the outsourcing field," he said.

Complimenting the media for bringing a "true picture" before the electorate through exit polls, Advani said when the recent exit polls predicted a hung Parliament, nearly half a dozen leaders from the Opposition stood for the Prime Minister's post. "This really brought a true picture of the Opposition," he said.

Counting the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government, he said under the leadership of Vajpayee, the country marched ahead in every sphere whether it was Indo-Pak relations, Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast or the economic front.

"Barring Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, all other States, especially Kerala and Maharashtra are now competing economically with each other," he said, adding this was a "good sign".

Criticising the Congress for "not taking up any development work in its 45 year rule in the country," Advani said the people have understood which party "sincerely wants to carry forward" the development work.

Advani claimed that the BJP-led NDA Government had fulfilled "most of the promises" made to the electorates six years ago and by 2020, all the villages of the country would be provided with power, water and roads.