In his harshest attack yet as Prime Minister, Atal Bihari
Vajpayee on Saturday accused the Congress of trying to
capture power at the Centre through undemocratic means and
of playing the role of a destructive opposition.
``There is not an iota of democracy in the party. In fact
its recent moves have been diabolic and was acting like a
destructive Opposition'' he told a public rally at the
Brigade Parade ground organised by the state BJP to
celebrate his Government's anniversary.
``How can the Congress protect democracy,'' he wondered.
"We were also in the Opposition but the then Prime Minister
Narasimha Rao asked me to go to Geneva as the Government
representative. I went and presented the Government's
unified face, so much so that the Pakistani delegation did
not have the guts to move the resolution on Kashmir there.
That is democracy. That spirit has to live on," Mr Vajpayee
said.
The BJP, he said, had played the role of Opposition for 40
years but "we never crossed the Lakshman Rekha. We could
also have disrupted Parliament, but we will not do it."
On Bihar, the Prime Minister said that President's rule had
been a "positive action and had been paying dividends." To
drive home the point, he said, "There was a genocide a few
hours ago after President's rule was withdrawn.''
The Prime Minister argued his case further. "The Congress
is only interested in power and the Left supports Article
356 only when it suits their policy of opportunism. if we
had President's rule in Bihar now, this latest retaliatory
killing would have been avoided," he added.
``The Congress is behaving like a fish without
water....jaise jal bin machli... They cannot survive
without power. We have nothing against assuming power
through democratic methods. But the Congress is using
underhand means," Mr Vajpayee said.
"My Government has brought stability to the country. We
inherited a lot of problems. But we are bringing in
changes. They are now visible. We have had economic
development, grown in infrastructure, agriculture, small
industry, housing. There has been the Pokhran blasts. The
country has got strength as well as security. And even
then, the Opposition is acting irresponsibly," he added.
Then came the pledge. ``In the next four years of service,
my Government will change the face of the country (Hum is
desh ka naksha badal dengey), Mr Vajpayee said, but for
that "help had to be extended by all."
The Prime Minister also criticised the Left Front
Government heavily and singled out Chief Minister Jyoti
Basu, for saying the BJP was "uncivilised" and was running
a "barbaric government."
"I can issue tough rejoinders too. But that is not in my
culture. Is Bengal's definition of culture different from
the rest of the country? The people of the country have put
us in power in Delhi," he added.
Mr Vajpayee was also scathing in criticising the State
Government's performance in the industry sector and said
the Centre was "ready to help out" provided the labour
unions were put on leash here. "We need cooperation of the
trade unions. Otherwise no progress is possible," he added.
Mr Vajpayee said, "I cannot say this for some states
though, but the people of India have never put an
uncivilised man at helm of power in Delhi. We have run a
coalition successfully for one year. Is that why we are
uncivilised? But how does this sort of mudslinging help?
Doesn't it affect the global image of the country?"
Though Ms Mamata Banerjee was not in town for the meeting
and neither was any of her Trinamool Congress leader
visible, Mr Vajpayee mentioned her by name quite a number
of times and applauded her. "I have asked her so many times
to join the ministry but she chooses to support us from
outside. Is that also part of uncivilised behaviour of a
coalition?" he said.
Admitting that there were "some problems" in the coalition,
he said,There is bound to be noise if there are many
utensils in the kitchen. But that is okay as long as the
meal is good."