Anti-graft Bill for public men soon: PM
From A.S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

PHULOKHARI (Bathinda), Nov 13 — The Centre will soon enact legislation to check corruption among public men.

This was announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, at a massive rally here today after laying the foundation stone of a Rs 16,000-crore oil refinery in the public sector in one of the most backward regions of Punjab.

"Our friends in the Congress had been holding up the enactment because they were insisting that the office of the Prime Minister should be kept out of the purview of the proposed law", said Mr Vajpayee, adding that he was not agreeable to the suggestion.

"Why should the Prime Minister's Office be outside the purview? Why should the Prime Minister be spared if he indulges in corrupt practices or gets involved in a scam?" asked the Prime Minister.

"The process of checking corruption must start from the top. It has been often seen that while the small fry get caught, the big fish manage to escape even after indulging in large scams. A Bill in this regard will be brought forward in the next session of Parliament", he declared.

Turning to the refinery, Mr Vajpayee said the project involving an investment of thousands of crores of rupees would be the biggest public sector venture in India.

In response to a suggestion from the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, he named the refinery after Guru Gobind Singh amidst cries of "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal".

He said Guru Gobind Singh's sacrifices in the service of humanity were matchless. Naming the refinery after him was his humble tribute to the great guru, Mr Vajpayee said and pointed out that only a few weeks ago, his government had sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa.

The refinery would generate employment for thousands of people, besides bringing about a sea change in the economy of Punjab. "The state which has been supplying foodgrains to the rest of the country, will soon start supplying oil, petrol, diesel, LPG and Kerosene, he observed, adding that the credit for bringing the project to Punjab should be given not to him but to the Chief Minister because it was Mr Badal who had monitored its progress at different levels on a daily basis.

He congratulated the SAD-BJP Government on creating a peaceful environment in the state which alone could attract mega projects like the refinery.

Mr Vajpayee said his government was conscious of the requirements and demands of Punjab and the need for the Centre to adopt a liberal and large-hearted approach towards the state. His government was aware of the widespread damage to the cotton and paddy crops caused by the recent unseasonal rain and decision would be taken in this regard soon.

The Prime Minister endorsed an observation made earlier by Mr Badal that the relations between the SAD and the BJP were not based on sharing power alone but reflected the traditional brotherhood of people in Punjab.

"It is a union of hearts which will last for ever", he declared amidst cheers. He also debunked propaganda that the BJP wanted to create a communal division. "Don't believe such propaganda. We want close bonds between all sections of society and stand for universal brotherhood", Mr Vajpayee said.

Referring to foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said he wanted good neighbourly relations with all countries. "We want friendship with all our neighbours. We want that there should be free travel, more trade and commerce. But if they want some time, we have no objection. We will continue to take measures necessary to safeguard the security of the country", he declared.

The nuclear tests were conducted to safeguard and strengthen "our security". Certain countries had imposed economic sanctions and had tried to isolate the country. But India faced these problems resolutely and now these countries had begun to lift the sanctions, the Prime Minister said.

Mr Vajpayee also made a reference to the difficult economic situation and said his government inherited a large number of problems, including a troubled economy and violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Steps had been initiated to improve the situation, but more needed to be done. In this regard, he sought the cooperation of people.

Earlier, on his arrival here by a helicopter, the Prime Minister was received by the Chief Minister, the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the Union Minister of State for Industries, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior SAD leaders and the Punjab BJP chief, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, MP.

Mr Vajpayee was accompanied by the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr V.K. Ramamurthy, and the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Santosh Kumar Gangwar. The function was attended by several Punjab ministers.

After conducting the Prime Minister to a platform under a canopy, Mr Badal put a turban on Mr Vajpayee's head and presented him with a shawl and a sword. Mr Badal exchanged siropas and mementoes with Mr Ramamurthy and Mr Gangwar.

Mr Badal traced the long history of the alleged discrimination against Punjab by the successive Congress governments at the Centre. He said the Rs 16,000-crore refinery alone exceeded the entire industrial investment in the private and public sectors totalling Rs 2,078 crore in the state during the past five decades. He wanted a special economic status for Punjab so that its industrial growth could be speeded up. He also urged the Prime Minister to set up a committee of farm experts and four or five chief ministers with agricultural background to study the problems of agriculture and suggest ways and means to make it a viable proposition.

In his speech, Mr Tohra said "we cannot get a more friendly Prime Minister" and said "when the Sikhs were being branded terrorists, it was Mr Vajpayee who came to our help and support". He wanted the Prime Minister to concede his party's demand to exclude Udham Singh Nagar district from the proposed state of Uttaranchal.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said the refinery was bigger than even the Bhakra Dam by way of investment and as an instrument of development. Just as the Bhakra Dam had changed the face of agriculture in Punjab, the refinery would change the industrial scene of the state.

Mr Ramamurthy gave details of the project and the plans of his ministry to set up more refineries in different parts of the country and to step up oil exploration.

PM confident of poll victory
From Satish Misra
Tribune News Service

ON BOARD IAF AIRCRAFT, Nov 13 — Reiterating that the November 25 poll in four states will not be a referendum on his coalition government at the Centre, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, told newsmen on board his official aircraft that the BJP would win the assembly elections in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and also be successful in opening its account in Mizoram.

Speaking to mediapersons while returning from Bathinda after laying the foundation stone of a petroleum refinery complex, the Prime Minister said the political situation was improving everyday and the BJP would get majority in all three northern states.

"My government has completed only eight months and it was elected for a full five-year term", Mr Vajpayee said, adding that the coming Assembly elections would not be a referendum on the performance of the BJP-led coalition government. "How can voters make a judgement on the Central Government," he asked.

On the Congress charge that the Prime Minister office was trying to shield certain persons in the Romesh Sharma case, the Prime Minister said the charge was "absurd".

Denying that he had said that there was "mafia raj" in Bihar, the Prime Minister said he did not meant to imply that the ruling party was like a mafia.

Asked to list his government’s major problems, Mr Vajpayee said there were no major problems but an impression had gone around "that the alliance led by the BJP is always quarrelling".

When asked if the media was responsible for creating this impression or if the allies were responsible for it, the Prime Minister chose to evade a reply.

The Prime Minister ruled out cabinet expansion for the time-being.

The Centre was not thinking of bringing back TADA. Instead it had suggested to individual states to enact such laws if they felt a need for it, the Prime Minister explained.

The economy is doing well and the government is thinking of taking a number of steps for boosting domestic economy, he said. "The economy was on the recovery path but unseasonal rains created difficulties", Mr Vajpayee said.

On the demand of NRIs for a 49 per cent equity in the insurance sector, the Prime Minister said that the government would consider the same.

Replying questions on foreign policy issues, Mr Vajpayee expressed satisfaction that even the USA had recognised the strength of the Indian economy.

Mr Vajpayee ruled out any immediate decision on signing the CTBT saying that "there are many hurdles to be overcome".

On what was preventing India from signing the CTBT, Mr Vajpayee said the transfer of technology was the "main issue". The next round of Indo-US talks in Paris on November 19 would focus on these issues, he said.

If India was demanding a nuclear weapons status like the other P-5 countries, the Prime Minister said that "we have not made any demand as we are already a nuclear weapons state".

Expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved at the today's first round of Indo-Pak talks, Mr Vajpayee said the very fact that the two countries were holding talks was a positive development.

Sidelights
Tribune News Service

• Though Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, President of the Punjab BJP, and Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Local Self Government Minister and leader of the BJP group in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, were present in the rally, no leader mentioned their names in his speech. Only Mr Vajpayee mentioned the name of Mr Sodhi who was sitting on the stage.
• Mr Parkash Singh Badal placed a kesri turban on the head of Mr Vajpayee as a mark of respect. He was also presented a sword and a shawl.
• The 40-km stretch of road from the Bhisiana air force station to the site of refinery was decorated like a bride with the welcome arches, flags and flowers. A fresh coat of paint was given to the road dividers and roundabouts.
• A cloud of dust enveloped the pandal when the three choppers of the Prime Minister landed at the temporary helipads in Phulokhari village.
• The triangular foundation stone had engravings in three languages. The Prime Minister unveiled it by pressing a button from the stage. Only eight VVIPs were sitting on the stage.
• Elaborate security arrangements were made for the PM's visit. All the roads from Bathinda to the site were dotted with policemen.
• Gurdas Mann and Sukhi Brar, Punjabi folk singers, were pressed into service for attracting the crowd. A bhangra team was also present for their entertainment.
• Mr Vajpayee concluded his speech with the slogan of "Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal".
• While ministers and MLAs of the ruling SAD-BJP combine waited for the VVIPs till 12 o' clock in a canopy, the rural folk were made to sweat in the sun without even any facility of drinking water.