Vajpayee lashes out at Cong for `adverse’ policies

PANAJI, February 25: BJP prime ministerial candidate, A B Vajpayee today lashed out at the policies of the Congress and United Front saying that it had an adverse effect on the country’s economy. Addressing an election meeting at Campal ground here this afternoon in support of the BJP candidates from Panaji and Mormugao Lok Sabha constituencies, Pandurang Raut and Ramakant Angle, Vajpayee alleged that the country’s exports had fallen during the 18-month-old United Front regime.

The cut in the import duty had adversely affected the sale of indigenously manufactured goods, he said adding that even after 50 years, as many as 40 per cent people were living below the poverty line in the country and another 60 per cent were deprived of educational opportunities.

The BJP leader assured that if his party came to power it would create employment for one crore people every year and find solutions to other problems plaguing the country. He blamed the Congress and United Front for forcing mid-term polls on thepeople.

“BJP had emerged as the largest party after the 1996 general elections. However, the mandate of the people was disregarded by the other parties, who refused to co-operate resulting in the fall of the 13-day old government,” he said. He alleged that the Congress, which could not stay out of power, toppled the Deve Gowda government when it realised that it was speeding up cases against Congressmen.