The Hindu : `We will be in power under Vajpayee'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

`We will be in power under Vajpayee'

WASHINGTON JUNE 9. In an attempt to end the controversy over the leadership in the BJP, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today asserted that "we will continue to be in power for many more years under Vajpayee's leadership".

"Humko phir 2004 mein janadesh milega, aur Vajpayee ji varshon tak phir rajya karenge (we will again get the mandate in the 2004 general elections and Mr. Vajpayee would rule for years)," Mr. Advani told a gathering of Indian Americans.

Pointing out that Mr. Vajpayee was the only non-Congress Prime Minister to have completed five years, Mr. Advani said "it was not a major achievement but the BJP-led NDA coalition should be given credit for the political stability."

He said new legislation would be made for the dual citizenship to the People of Indian Origin (PIOs). "The facility would be extended to other countries like the U.S. and Canada where dual citizenship restrictions were in force," he said.

Mr. Advani said there would be no compromise on the issue of terrorism and that India would give a befitting reply to the proxy war being waged by Pakistan. Making India's position clear, he said, "after 9/11, we hoped that countries abetting terrorist outfits would not get any assistance as any sort of back-up would only propagate terrorism".

India, he said, had to suffer terrorist attacks even after 9/11 and even the U.S. President, George W. Bush, had deplored the attack on India's Parliament. He recalled that Mr Vajpayee had warned the U S about the menace of terrorism even before 9/11.

Pointing to the achievements of Non-Resident Indians, Mr. Advani said that when Indians could do wonders after crossing borders "there should not be any difficulty in performing remarkably even while serving in the country".

He reaffirmed the NDA Government's resolve to provide corruption-free elections. However, there were some States such as Bihar where electoral violence was still not uncommon.. — UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Muslim Law Board rejects Kanchi Acharya's claim

SC rejects plea against excavation

High-level dialogue only after infiltration ends: Advani

`We will be in power under Vajpayee'

Advani, Ashcroft discuss counter-terrorism

Pak. complains of slow pace of peace process

Delhi surprised by Pak. charge

CRPF jawan kills superiors

Launch of Rovers postponed

Absconding judge's bail application rejected

Steve Waugh honoured