PM ridicules Cong alliance efforts

They got neither Mayawati nor Mulayam Singh Yadav: Vajpayee

In a speech that was a curious blend of internal politics and international relations, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today ridiculed the Congress for its attempt to forge a disparate and incompatible coalition to grab power but praised Pakistan for displaying a change of attitude towards India.

Vajpayee reached Amritsar to receive his deputy, LK Advani, who wound up the first leg of the Bharat Uday Yatra here after covering a distance of 4,300 km from Kanya-kumari and crossing through 73 Lok Sabha seats.

A political speech was expected from Vajpayee as the tone of the meeting was set by Shiromani Akali Dal chief Prakash Singh Badal who launched a scathing attack on the Amarinder Singh government.

Badal also referred to growing unemployment, suicides by farmers, unsustainable agriculture, and demanded a package to revive steel industry and other sectors.

But the Prime Minister chose to stick to his own agenda. Vajpayee began his speech by showering praise on Advani for undertaking a gruelling journey through the country to campaign for the party.

To cover up the faultlines in the BJP-Akali Dal alliance in Punjab, Vajpayee said the alliance was an ideal example of the coalition politics.

"We have adhered to the coalition dharma and worked for strengthening the nation," he said while addressing a moderate rally.

"But these days , an ally in the morning turns hostile by the evening," he said in an obvious reference to the Congress' desperate search for the alliance partners.

"Na Maya mili na Mulayam mile (they got neither Mayawati nor Mulayam Singh Yadav)," he said. He blamed the Congress for trying to forge the coalition in its reckless pursuit of power and not for the national building.

"Why else did they pulled down the governments led by Chandrashekhar, HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujaral?" he asked.

What surprised even BJP leaders is Vajpayee's drifting into the diplomatic sphere after he talked about the cricket match. "These days India and Pakistan are playing cricket," he said while referring to the bonhomie between people during the cricket matches.

"There are signs of change even in Pakistan as it takes two to tango," he said while appreciating the change in attitude across the border. Referring to his bus yatra to Lahore, Vajpayee said, "the situation was not so good in those days".

Recounting the Kargil clashes and diplomatic efforts of the US, he said Pakistan had gained nothing out of subsequent wars with India.

"In fact, Pakistan has to cede Bangladesh in the second war," he said while referring to Pakistan's obstinacy on Kashmir.

"Let there be peaceful talks on Kashmir also," he said, adding that there would be no fear of war in future as India and Pakistan would strive to leave as peaceful neighbours. "Our trade will prosper," he said.

BJP sources said Vajpayee's focus on Pakistan was calculated to address a wide swathe of people living near the border areas of Amritsar and Jammu, whose lives had been ruined by a situation of constant conflict.

Echoing Vajpayee, Badal said villagers on the international borders were now living in peace. "They have started farming as there is no fear of bullets flying from across the border," he said.

In Punjab, Advani covered nine Lok Sabha seats in his two-day journey and found rousing receptions at many places.

His yatra, however, encountered protests at Verka near here, where Congress activists displayed black flags. Advani also sought divine blessings by visiting the Golden temple and a nearby temple.

His visit to Jallianwala Bagh was intended to put across the message of nationalism. That Advani chose to play down the core issues of Hindutva was evident from his assertion that the BJP was committed to the NDA agenda even if the BJP would come to power on its own.