Vajpayee urges US to go only for talks, shun war

‘‘War is not the solution,’’ he said. ‘‘The crisis should be resolved through talks by the United Nations. Let peace prevail, only that will lead to prosperity.’’ He said war would destabilise the world economy, with oil prices shooting up, Iraq being a major supplier of oil to the world, especially to India.

‘‘India imports about Rs 90,000 crore-worth of petrol and diesel, and though we are seeking alternatives such as ethanol and bio-diesel, demand for oil — for which India depends on Gulf countries — is bound to go up,’’ he said. Development of roads is essential for overall progress, Vajpayee said, and offered assurance that his government was committed to creating a network of better roads. All state governments had shown eagerness to help create the network, he said. ‘‘It should be like the arteries and viens in the human body,’’ he said.

‘‘Such a network should enable a person to go from Kashmir to Kanyakumari without any obstacles.’’ Referring to his dream ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ project, linking the four metros, he said the project would help the nation save Rs 8,000 crore per year on petrol alone. ‘‘In the last 50 years, no attention was given to the development of roads,’’ he said, coming down heavily on previous governments.

‘‘Post-independence all projects remained on paper only.’’ On a lighter vein Vajpayee made a comparison with developed countries: ‘‘There, people are fined for driving slower than the prescribed speed on an expressway. Here, people are fined for overspeeding.’’

‘‘Why can’t we construct better roads when they can usher in development of the state,’’ he said, and promised connectivity to rural areas too.

‘‘The development of roads network is not related to any particular political party nor to any issue,’’ he said.

‘‘To move ahead, one has to pay. Toll toh dena hi padega. Gati keemat mangti hai.’’ Deputy P M L.K. Advani, who also spoke on the occasion, said a road network would change the economy of the country and opening of this expressway showed the government’s commitment to development for having ‘‘surajya’’ (good governance).

He said his government was also giving a thrust to the linking of rivers: ‘‘already a study had been completed, and a task force was at work’’.

Stat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who was present at the functio, urged Advani to include Gujarat in the Gram Sadak Yojna, aimed at rural connectivity with better roads.