M A I N   N E W S

Capt’s agenda is Badal, badli, badla: BJP
Rashmi Talwar and Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, November 13
Admitting ineffectiveness of the BJP-SAD government in bringing Central welfare policies to the rural masses national BJP President Venkaiah Naidu, who was here to flag off a “gaon chalo abhiyaan”, said the BJP was committed to monitor all Central policies for the rural poor, which had till now benefitted a few while a vast majority had remained unaware.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu, BJP President, addressing a press conference in Amritsar on Wednesday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Indulging in Congress bashing, he said the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government had only a three-point agenda — “Badal, badli and badla”. The Chief Minister was obsessed with Mr Badal and was indulging in transfers and revenge.

The BJP President said the Congress was interfering in Sikh affairs and was releasing hardcore terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. This was the second rural rally after the one at Khanna.

Highlighting the achievements of the NDA government, he said the BJP would propose waiving of loans in areas hit by either drought or flood. He said in December, the postman would not only be a harbinger of news from near and dear ones, but would also be carrying a mobile wireless telephone service, with which people could talk to their relatives and friends on spot payment for telephone calls.

He announced that the Rs 56,000-crore Golden Highway Project, conceived by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, would commence next year, connecting all four corners of the country by a super-highway. He said this would be followed by a road network connecting each village. The party would propose 7 per cent GDP for rural development to bring the country among the developed and powerful nations of the world, he added.

Taking a dig at Capt Amarinder Singh, he said the Chief Minister had not got over sitting in the opposition and probably was rehearsing to go back, considering his unbecoming act of dharnas and courting arrests in Delhi before the Prime Minister. He ruled that after 55 years after Independence, 50 per cent of the population was illiterate and 30 per cent below the poverty line.

There was a widening gap between the urban and rural populace, while lack of development in villages, especially roads, telephones, electricity, water, sewerage and schools, he said. These issues needed to be addressed on priority basis, he said. The party was committed to uplift the poor at all costs.

Mr Harjit Singh Grewal, state BJP general secretary, said the party was committed to raise 5,000 party units in rural areas in Punjab. He castigated the anti-farmer, anti-people repressive policies of the Congress government.

Mr Ashok Pardhan, Union Labour Minister, promised electricity to each village by 2005. Mr Vinod Khanna, Union Minister of State for Tourism, and Mr Shahnawaz Hussain, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, were conspicuous by their absence. Among those present were Mr Tikshan Sood, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, and Mr Sukhpal Singh Nanu, all MLAs, and Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, state BJP president.