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NDA embraces BJP agenda NEW DELHI: India's ruling coalition Thursday unveiled its election manifesto that not only brought back the Ayodhya issue to the frontburner but betrayed almost singular dependence on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's popularity in its quest for a renewed mandate. Announcing a manifesto for the coming general election that promises "development, good governance and peace", the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also vowed to bar people of foreign origin from top offices -- a provision aimed at Italy-born Congress president Sonia Gandhi. On the Ayodhya temple-mosque tangle, the NDA manifesto said while the judiciary's verdict should be accepted by all, efforts for a dialogue and negotiated settlement "in an atmosphere of mutual trust and goodwill" should be encouraged. "The NDA is committed to the early and amicable resolution of the Ayodhya issue," Vajpayee said, unveiling the NDA manifesto that stressed a dialogue on the issue would "strengthen national integration". The BJP and its Hindu hardline affiliates favour the building of a grand Hindu temple at the site of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, which was razed by Hindu zealots in December 1992. The vexed issue, which has discomfited the BJP's allies in the past, made its way into the coalition agenda for the first time. An important ally like the Telugu Desam Party has already questioned its inclusion. TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the controversial issue could have been avoided as the focus in the elections is on development. In 1999, the BJP sacrificed the temple agenda besides other contentious issues close to its heart in favour of a common NDA agenda with regional allies who did not share its Hindu nationalist views. Asked why it was in the coalition agenda, a defensive Vajpayee said the Ayodhya issue could not be ignored. "It is a question of a unanimous national view. You cannot ignore this question. But we have also indicated how the issue can be resolved - through talks or court verdict." He said the Ayodhya issue was included in the NDA manifesto primarily to end any speculation and to see that it did not become an election issue. The manifesto also vowed to bring legislation to bar foreign-born people from the nation's top offices, a move clearly aimed at scuttling Congress president Sonia Gandhi's bid for power. "Legislation will be introduced to ensure that important offices of the Indian state can be occupied only by those who are India's natural citizens by their Indian origin," it said. Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said this was a commitment and an affirmation of a basic principle the NDA subscribed to. The manifesto proudly displayed a picture of a smiling Vajpayee walking on a lush green lawn, with the caption: "Confident steps towards making India a developed nation and a great power". The NDA, a coalition of 15 political parties led by the BJP, also renewed its commitment to create 10 million new jobs every year by raising employment elasticity and promoting employment- generating sectors of the economy. The 36-page manifesto was released in the conspicuous absence of key allies like the Shiv Sena and the Biju Janata Dal, with BJP heavyweights present in full strength. The NDA promised a second green revolution as part of its thrust on agriculture as the vehicle for development. The please-all manifesto also aimed at achieving and sustaining a gross domestic product growth rate of 8-10 percent -- identical to the Congress' promise in its economic Vision Document released Wednesday. The manifesto envisaged inter-linking of rivers, completion of ongoing irrigation projects and adequate supply of power to all farmers by 2009 and setting up a task force for boosting private sector investment in agriculture. Making India the "food factory" of the world and doubling farm income by 2010 were other promises made by the manifesto for the agriculture sector. It assured a national drinking water scheme to provide potable water to all villages by 2007, augment power generation by 50,000 MW and seamlessly improve the country's road network. Also promised was an open sky civil aviation policy within 30 days of the NDA taking power, new international airports and a telephone to every alternate Indian family in five years pushing tele-density from 70 million to 300 million. The NDA said it would extend full support to India's proposed moon mission 'Chandrayaan' in 2008, by which time it aims to boost IT exports to $50 billion. While promising schemes to abolish poverty and hunger, the NDA said it would introduce non-coercive disincentives for a two- child norm and incentives for a girl child. The two-child norm will be made a qualification, on a prospective basis, for contesting any election. The manifesto promised to eliminate cross-border terrorism and adopt a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate left-wing extremism and continue dialogue with Pakistan to find a lasting solution to all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir issue. Though the number of constituents of the NDA has gone down to 15 from 23 parties over the past five years, the number of pages in the manifesto has increased from 10 to 36. Reuters |
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| << April09, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]12 April- 50th Birth Anniversary of Safdar Hashmi |
April09, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]Judgment on Aakrosh says analyzing riots is important. >> |
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