Joshi for "final" war against Pakistan

Joshi said it was need of the nation to elect Vajpayee as the prime minister and Bharatiya Janata Party with its allies to form a stable government. He asked the gathering of about 10,000 people, with a significant attendance of women, pointedly if they wanted Ram or Rome in New Delhi.

Launching a tirade against the former chiefminister Sharad Pawar and the Congress star Sonia Gandhi, Joshi said the latter never talked about problems bedevilling the nation. "She is also not aware of the history and traditions of the nation. How can she lead the nation," asked Joshi.

Joshi pledged, among other things, steps to solve the stubborn Maharashtra-Karnataka border problem and the water scarcity that many villages in the state faced. The State Government had provided Rs 7,100 crores to assuage the problems in the drought prone areas, Joshi pointed out.

CM’s comic interlude on Kesri

During both of his speeches, Joshi termed Congress president Sitaram Kesri a "cartoon." "Look at the funny way he looks, he walks and he talks," Joshi pointed, adding, "…(Kesri) .. reminds me of a cartoon."

Joshi said his 1-year-old grandson loved watching cartoons and clapped when he saw one on TV. "Once my grandson was playing near the television when cartoon show was going on. All of a sudden, he started clapping. I was surprised. When Ilooked at the screen, I saw Kesri addressing a meeting," Joshi concluded.