M A I N   N E W S

Advani accuses Oppn of slander
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 17
Putting on a brave face after the Election Commission ruled out an early poll in Gujarat, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani today claimed that the BJP would win hands down whenever elections were held in the state.

Speaking at a day-long political conference of the Delhi BJP here, Mr Advani accused the Opposition parties of indulging in “character assassination and slander campaign out of frustration” by targeting him, Union Ministers Pramod Mahajan, Ram Naik and Ananth Kumar, besides Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Referring to last evening’s decision of the EC on the Gujarat poll, Mr Advani said: “I know Gujarat. I am from Gujarat. They (EC) may hold elections whenever they like but we will win hands down,”. His statement drew thunderous applause and aggressive raising of slogans from party cadres.

Taking exception to the Opposition’s constant attack on Mr Modi, the Deputy Prime Minister said the Gujarat Chief Minister was rated the second most popular person in the country in a survey.

“He (Modi) is an elected Chief Minister, the second most popular person in the country. India’s stature does not grow by attacking him,” Mr Advani said.

“The Opposition is saying whatever they feel like. They are attacking me, Modi, Mahajan, Naik and Ananth Kumar. This does not reflect confidence, but frustration,” Mr Advani said. Dubbing the allegations regarding petrol stations and land allotments as “baseless”, Mr Advani said: “it is just a slander campaign as they have realised that the BJP cannot be ousted and the party is stabilising.”

The political parties which had apprehensions about the BJP-led coalition’s survival have now come to terms with the fact that this government would last its full term, he said, adding that a jittery Opposition was now resorting to character assassination and a slander campaign.

On the charges that some organisations affiliated to the RSS had been given land in the Capital’s institutional areas, he said: “People living in glass houses should not throw stones at others. About 4,000 applicants have been allotted land as per the laid-down procedures. Is it a crime if a handful of them are related to the RSS?”