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Bofors, prices will be poll issues: PM

Shireen in Rajahmundry

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said that "the Congress is now paying the price for its game of destabilisation".

Addressing the media in the coastal town before winding up his visit to Andhra Pradesh, Vajpayee said, "Those who plotted to create instability are themselves becoming victims of instability."

However, he declined to comment on the banner of revolt raised by Congress Working Committee members Sharad Pawar, P A Sangma and Tariq Anwar against projecting AICC president Sonia Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate.

"I have no comment. I have already made known my views on the issue. I will stick to them," he said in response to several queries on the issue.

Vajpayee, however, noted that this demand for disallowing persons of foreign origin from holding the offices of President, vice-president and prime minister of India has already been voiced by many quarters. "We will further discuss the issue when the National Democratic Alliance meets to finalise the manifesto," he added.

The prime minister claimed that "the Bharatiya Janata Party has not made an issue of Sonia's foreign antecedents. I think it should be left to the people to decide."

Asked how different the NDA is from the earlier coalition formed by the BJP along with its allies, Vajpayee said that "formerly the BJP led an alliance with other parties. The formation of the NDA is a step forward.''

He declined to spell out the main poll plank of the NDA. "Wait for our slogan," he said. He maintained that there was now complete cohesion and understanding among the BJP and its allies. He also did not foresee any pressures from new allies like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Replying to questions, the prime minister said, "It is for the Telugu Desam Party to decide whether to have an electoral alliance with the BJP." He said that the BJP welcomed an electoral understanding with the TDP so that the non-Congress votes are not split in the state.

Lashing out at the Congress, the prime minister pooh-poohed the Congress claim of being a cohesive party which alone could provide a stable and one-party government. "Let the people decide who will provide a stable government. The Congress' policies, programmes and political conduct have only created some intractable problems," he said.

Vajpayee made it clear that the Bofors issue and the price situation would be major issues in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Replying to another question, he said he was unaware of any violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act by Sonia Gandhi.

On the price front, he said the prices of essential commodities had been brought down while the inflation rate was now less than five per cent.

Asked about the rise in the prices of certain commodities and industrial goods, Vajpayee said there might be some seasonal variation in the prices of some commodities but the overall situation on the price front was satisfactory. A Cabinet sub-committee had been constituted for keeping a close watch on the price situation, he added.

Additional reportage: UNI

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