Tuesday, February 1 2005 16:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Badshahpur (Haryana): Dismissing Congress President Sonia Gandhi's promise on improvement of law and order situation in Bihar and Haryana, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president L K Advani today (Feb 1, 2005) said the ruling party should first rid the Union Cabinet of Ministers facing criminal charges.

"I read the speech of Congress President Sonia Gandhi in newspapers that they will rid Haryana of crime. If you want to make these States free of crime, first make your Cabinet free of criminals," he said, addressing an election meeting in Haryana in support of BJP candidate Kartar Singh Bhadana, contesting from Sohna Assembly constituency.

"Yesterday, I was in Bihar. People of that State are very angry with the Government there, as several school children have been abducted there in the last few days. In such a situation, you say that we will free the State of crime," Advani said.

Accusing the Congress of having entered into an "agreement" with Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh and ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) in Assam to win Assembly elections, he said violence has risen in these States, of late.

"With great difficulty, we have established peace in the Northeast. To form its Government, they entered into agreements with Naxals in Andhra Pradesh and ULFA in Assam. Now, in the two States, violence has risen," Advani, alleged.

Pooh-poohing the Congress' poll slogan of 'Congress ka haath, aam admi ke saath,' Advani said prices of every commodity have risen in the nine months since the Congress came to power.

"Our Government kept the inflation under control for six years we were in power. In the last nine months, since the Congress came to power, cotton has become expensive. Clothes have become expensive. Prices of all commodities were rising," he alleged.