Friday, August 19 2005 18:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bellary: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Aug 19, 2005) said running a coalition Government at the Centre was 'not an easy task' and only leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee could do it.

Addressing a huge gathering after taking part in a series of functions in Bellary, Advani said during the Vajpayee rule, internal security was 'excellent' and a promise was even extracted from Pakistan that its soil would not be allowed to be used for terrorist activities aimed at India.

Inflation was also under control and there was no Naxal activity then, he said.

But, Advani said, with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, 'everything is changed' with the inflation going out of control, Naxal activities on the rise and the Left parties not allowing the government to function.

He said the Congress in Andhra Pradesh had come to power assuring Naxalites that cases against them would be withdrawn.

But now, the Naxalites continued their activities and the Government had banned four Naxal outfits.

Besides attending a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) function, Advani inaugurated an old age home, distributed tricycles to the handicapped children and attended a mass marriage programme where 300 couples tied the nuptial knots.